Coming of Age: Short Stories

Lesson 2
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ELA

Unit 12

6th Grade

Lesson 2 of 28

Objective


Describe how the author, Matt de la Peña, develops the narrator's unique point of view.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Flying Lessons & Other Stories by Ellen Oh  pp. 9 – 22 — "How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium" by Matt de la Peña. End at "Sentenced to the Bleachers"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

How does the narrator's confidence develop throughout the story?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • Reread the first two paragraphs of the section "Sentenced to the Bleachers". How does de la Peña contrast society's perception of the players and the narrator's perception of the players? What does this reveal about the narrator?

  • Contrast how the players view the boy on and off the court.

  • What does the narrator learn from his encounter with Dante on pages 13–19?

  • Why does de la Peña include the scene with Slim on page 21?

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

literary point of view

the narrative perspective through which a story is told; most commonly first-person, second-person, third-person omniscient, or third-person limited

Text-based

erupting

v.

(p. 17)

to break or burst out suddenly

devote

v.

(p. 21)

to dedicate; to give a purpose

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.

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What does the narrator love to do?

  • What does the girl dream about at night?

  • Describe the setting of the story. Where does the girl live?

  • Why is flying also important to the mother?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.6.1 — Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
  • 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.6.1
L.6.2
L.6.3
L.6.6
RL.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.1.a
SL.6.6
W.6.1
W.6.1.a
W.6.1.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.10

Next

Compare and contrast character motivations in "Volar" and "How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium".

Lesson 3
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Lesson Map

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