Friendship Across Boundaries: Return to Sender

Lesson 4
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ELA

Alternate Unit 2

5th Grade

Lesson 4 of 29

Objective


Explain how the letter helps a reader better understand Mari and her relationship with her family. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez  pp. 17 – 22

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A Note for Teachers


In her letter and throughout the text, Mari refers to herself as both "illegal" or "alien" due to the terms she hears boys at school call her because of her immigration status. Though in the text, explain to students why the use of "illegal" or "alien" to describe an immigrant is harmful and offensive. Instead, encourage students to use "undocumented" or other neutral terms. Watch this video titled "No Human Being Was Born Illegal" (2:33). In this video, students stage a demonstration to draw attention to the use of the word "illegal" to describe undocumented immigrants, and start a school-wide conversation about the way immigrants are perceived in their community.

Target Task


Writing Prompt

Mari uses letter writing as a tool to process her emotions and experiences. How does the letter help a reader better understand Mari and her relationship with her family?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • Both Papá and Mari are filled with worries. Compare and contrast their worries. 

  • Mari says that she feels "so alone sometimes" (p. 21).  What causes her to feel alone?

  • Analyze Mari's relationship with her sisters. Why is their relationship the way that it is? 

  • What point of view are Mari's letters written in? What point of view are Tyler's sections written in? Why would the author make this decision? 

  • How have stereotypes influenced Mari? Give a specific example. 

Vocabulary


console

v.

to help someone feel less sad or disappointed

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.5.3 — Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Supporting Standards

L.5.4
L.5.5
RF.5.3
RF.5.4
RL.5.1
RL.5.4
RL.5.10
SL.5.1
W.5.10
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Lesson 3

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Lesson 5

Lesson Map

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