Claiming Our Place: LGBTQ+ Experiences in the United States

Lesson 16
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ELA

Unit 6

7th Grade

Lesson 16 of 20

Objective


Explain how specific chapters in The 57 Bus fit into the overall structure of the text, and develop the reader’s understanding of characters and ideas.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater  pp. 223 – 254

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Reread the chapters titled "Tired" (p. 245) and "A Prayer" (pp. 251–252). What is the impact of reading these chapters side by side? How does it help the reader better understand the story overall? Provide evidence from these chapters to support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Close Read Questions

  • What is significant about the chapters "What to Say" and "Always Okay"? How do they fit into the story overall? Provide specific evidence from these pages (pp. 224–226) to support your answer.

  • How do the chapters "We the People," "Pretty," and "Dancing" contribute to the reader’s understanding of the story overall? Provide specific evidence from these pages (pp. 227–233) to support your answer.

  • Why did Slater most likely include the chapters "Ripples," "Ass Smacking," "Restorative Justice," and "Not Wanting To"? How do these chapters develop the reader’s understanding of larger ideas in the text? Provide specific evidence from this section of the text (pp. 234–242) to support your answer.

Discussion Questions

  • What does today’s reading suggest about privilege and opportunity?

Exit Ticket

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

Vocabulary


Text-based

consensual

adj.

done with the agreement of all people involved

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: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater  pp. 255 – 295

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • How is Sasha doing in college?

  • Is Richard sent to an adult or juvenile facility?

  • How do Sasha and their family respond to reading Richard's letters?

  • How does Richard do when he is incarcerated?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.7.5 — Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RI.7.1
RI.7.2
RI.7.4
RI.7.10
SL.7.1
SL.7.6
W.7.1
W.7.1.a
W.7.1.b
W.7.4
W.7.9
W.7.9.b
W.7.10
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Lesson 15

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Lesson 17

Lesson Map

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