Fleeing Conflict: Refugee & The Unwanted

Lesson 14
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 5

6th Grade

Lesson 14 of 27

Objective


Explain how characters in Refugee 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. 203 – 235

Fishtank Plus

Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.

Target Task


Writing Prompt

How has Mahmoud’s perspective on being invisible/ignored changed over the course of the text? Read page 12, then provide at least two pieces of evidence from the passage on pages 213-214 to support your answer. 

Sample Response

Upgrade to Fishtank Plus to view Sample Response.

Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • How does Captain Schroeder respond to the news that they have been turned away from the port in Cuba? What does this reveal about his character and perspective? Provide evidence from pages 219-220 to support your answer.

  • How does Officer Padron respond to Josef’s pleas for help? What does this reveal about his character and perspective? Provide evidence from pages 221-222 to support your answer.

  • How does Gratz use figurative language and repetition to develop the reader’s understanding of Isabel’s response to Iván’s death? Provide at least two examples from 223-226 to support your answer. 

Discussion Questions

  • Part 4

    What connections can you make between the three characters, based on what we have read today?

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. 236 – 262

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What news does Captain Schroeder tell the passengers aboard the St. Louis? How do the passengers respond?

  • What problems do Isabel and the other passengers on the small boat face as they approach the shore of Miami? Name at least two.

  • What does the taxi driver demand from Mahmoud’s family?

  • Why do the men ask Josef to help them take over the ship?

  • Is the mutiny a success? Why or why not?

Enhanced Lesson Plan

Fishtank Plus Content

Bring your most engaging lessons to life with comprehensive instructional guidance, detailed pacing, supports to meet every student's needs, and resources to strengthen your lesson planning and delivery.

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 how characters in Refugee respond differently to specific plot events, and how their responses reveal their perspective.

Lesson 15
icon/arrow/right/large

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Request a Demo

See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.

Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Are you interested in onboarding professional learning for your teachers and instructional leaders?

Yes

No

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free