Fleeing Conflict: Refugee & The Unwanted

Lesson 10
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ELA

Unit 5

6th Grade

Lesson 10 of 27

Objective


Explain how characters respond to and change as a result of specific plot events, and identify how their responses reveal their perspective. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Refugee by Alan Gratz  pp. 81 – 109

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What impact does the incident with Schiendick below deck have on Josef? How does it change his perspective? Provide specific evidence from pages 96 through 98 and explain your reasoning.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How has Isabel’s perspective of her life and future changed since she left Cuba? Provide specific evidence from pages 82 through 86 to support your answer. 

  • How has becoming a refugee changed Mahmoud’s perspective on the world and of himself? Provide specific evidence from pages 88–89 to support your answer. 

  • How does Lito’s perspective on going to America differ from the rest of the family’s? Provide evidence from pages 100 through 103 to support your answer.

Discussion Questions

  • What is your perspective on the boy who charges money to tell Mahmoud’s family where they can stay? Do you think he is taking advantage of them or that he is just doing his best to survive as well?

Exit Ticket

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

Vocabulary


Text-based

eternity

n.

(p. 89)

An infinite amount of time

Academic

point of view/perspective

n.

1. a character’s opinion or feelings about a specific topic/idea/event
2. the "lens" through which a person sees and understands the world. This is usually influenced by aspects of their identity, beliefs, and life experiences

Homework


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: Refugee by Alan Gratz  pp. 110 – 140

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What is Josef’s father’s general state of mind at this point in the text? Provide examples.

  • What does Papa argue with Mr. Shiendick about?

  • What happens to Señor Castillo as the tanker passes Isabel’s small boat?

  • What does the smuggler keep telling Mahmoud’s family? How do they respond?

  • What does Mahmoud do to protect his family?

  • Why is a doctor coming on board the St. Louis? What is Josef worried about?

  • What does Josef do to protect his family?

  • What does Isabel do when she realizes what has happened to Señor Castillo?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.6.3 — Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
  • RL.6.6 — Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RL.6.1
RL.6.2
RL.6.4
RL.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.6
W.6.1
W.6.1.a
W.6.1.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.9.a
W.6.10

Next

Explain why Refugee can be considered a “coming-of-age” novel and describe how each of the three protagonists are changing as the text progresses. 

Lesson 11
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