Expressing Yourself: Women in the Arts

Lesson 4
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ELA

Unit 3

6th Grade

Lesson 4 of 27

Objective


Explain how Copeland illustrates characters and elaborates on ideas about her difficult family life.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland  — Chapter 3

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

In what ways is Misty’s life at home different from her life as a dancer? How does she illustrate these differences for her reader? Provide at least two examples or anecdotes from chapter three, and use at least one of the following words in your response: turbulent; chaotic.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What was life like for Misty and her siblings when they were living with Robert? How does Copeland develop the reader’s understanding of what life was like in their household? Provide evidence from pages 46-54 to support your answer. 

  • How does Copeland view her mother and the decisions her mother made during this time period? Provide at least two pieces of evidence from text to support your answer. 

  • What role does Cindy play in Misty’s life? How does Copeland develop the reader’s understanding of their relationship? Provide at least two pieces of evidence from the text that support your answer, and carefully explain your thinking.

Discussion Questions

  • How do you respond to the fact that Misty’s mother agreed to let her live with Cindy?

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Homework


  • Provide students with the following summary of pages 75-89 and 97-99:
    • Misty enjoys living with Cindy, her husband, and son and begins to feel like part of their family.
    • Misty’s mother feels uncomfortable and upset with the way that Misty is changing while living with Cindy’s family and thinks that Cindy is overstepping.
    • Misty continues to receive accolades for her ballet performances and begins to get attention from major dance companies who want her to come study with them.

To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland  — pp.66-75 (page break) and pp. 90-97 (page break)

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Where is Misty living at this point in the text, and why?

  • How does Misty feel when she is performing? How do you know?

  • Why does Copeland say that she continues to go to ballet classes, even now?

  • What happens at the Music Center’s Spotlight Awards?

  • How do people respond to seeing Misty dance at the awards?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.6.3 — Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RI.6.1
RI.6.2
RI.6.4
RI.6.5
RI.6.8
RI.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.6
W.6.1.a
W.6.1.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.9.b
W.6.10
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