Curriculum / ELA / 7th Grade / Unit 9: When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir (2020) / Lesson 28
ELA
Unit 9
7th Grade
Lesson 28 of 29
Jump To
Lesson Notes
There was an error generating your document. Please refresh the page and try again.
Generating your document. This may take a few seconds.
Are you sure you want to delete this note? This action cannot be undone.
Explain/debate the advantages and disadvantages of achieving the American Dream according to Santiago’s story.
Book: When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir by Esmeralda Santiago pp. 255 – 270
We participate in the Amazon Associate program. This means that if you use this link to make an Amazon purchase, we receive a small portion of the proceeds, which support our non-profit mission.
Unlock features to optimize your prep time, plan engaging lessons, and monitor student progress.
Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved.
Has Esmeralda achieved the American Dream? And if so, at what cost? How does she define her cultural identity at the end of the memoir?
Answer in 10-15 complete sentences using details from the text.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
Discussion: The title of the book suggests that Esmeralda is now something different. How would you characterize her identity? Has she achieved the American Dream? If so, what kinds of sacrifices did she have to make to be successful in the United States?  Does one have to assimilate or give up one’s culture in order to achieve the American Dream?
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
RI.7.2 — Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
Next
Explain major themes in When I Was Puerto Rican.
Practice test-taking strategies such as process of elimination and annotating questions and answer choices.
Infer tone in an informational text about Puerto Rican migration in 1947.
Explain the author's perspective in the article.
Standards
RI.7.4RI.7.6
Identify and explain the symbolism of the guava in the prologue: “How To Eat A Guava”.
RI.7.4
Identify and analyze the symbolism of the jibaro.
Identify and analyze the depiction of Negi's relationship with her father.
RI.7.3
Identify and explain how the setting shapes Mami.
Explain the literal meaning of a simile.
Analyze how the author uses similes to develop her character.
Identify and explain the literal meaning of personification.
Identify and explain the author’s perspective on American imperialism. Students will be able to to identify and explain the effects of American imperialism in PR.
Identify and analyze personification in the song, “My Old San Juan.”
RL.7.4
Explain why Americans were imperialists in Puerto Rico based on the text.
Response to an on demand writing prompt.
W.7.2
Identify how the author develops the idea of gender norms.
RI.7.2
Analyze how the chapter "Why Women Remain Jamona" contributes to her development as a Puerto Rican woman.
RI.7.5
Analyze how the imagery contributes to the mood.
Analyze how a section of text contributes to Negi's shifting role in her family.
Explain how the imagery contributes to the author’s perspective on El Mangle.
RI.7.6
Analyze how the descriptions of mood contribute to the rising tension.
Identify the meaning of an unknown word.
Explain why the author uses anecdotes to show Negi’s relationship with her mother.
L.7.4RI.7.5
Explain how the first person point of view gives the reader insight into Esmeralda’s character.
Explain how the author uses tiny pressure-filled moments to build tension between Negi and Don Luis.
Analyze and identify the meaning of an unknown word.
Explain the limitations of the first person point of view.
Juxtapose depictions of love in the media with love in real life.
Explain the difference between objective and subjective.
Explain the American Dream.
Analyze how the narrator's description of the setting highlights her experience with diversity in America.
Identify and analyze the symbolism of Marilyn Monroe in American culture.
Explain how Negi’s perspective on gender and sexuality shifts in this chapter.
Juxtapose Mami and Negi's understanding of the American Dream.
Debate whether the American Dream is attainable for all immigrants.
RI.7.6SL.7.1
Compare and contrast how two authors present the idea of the American Dream in their texts.
RI.7.9
Create a free account to access thousands of lesson plans.
Already have an account? Sign In
See all of the features of Fishtank in action and begin the conversation about adoption.
Learn more about Fishtank Learning School Adoption.
Yes
No
We've got you covered with rigorous, relevant, and adaptable ELA lesson plans for free