Finding Home: The House on Mango Street

Lesson 8
icon/ela/white

ELA

Unit 4

7th Grade

Lesson 8 of 22

Objective


Describe how Cisneros uses references to nursery rhymes and fairy tale structures to reveal Esperanza's loss of innocence in The House on Mango Street.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros  pp. 29 – 42

Fishtank Plus

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

A Note for Teachers


In "The Family of Little Feet," Esperanza and her friends are sexually harassed by older men. The descriptions are not graphic, but may still be triggering for students. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances and other verbal or physical harassment. Students will read more about gender norms and stereotypes, including sexual harassment later in this unit. Consider how to best support students when reading this chapter and addressing the topic of sexual harassment, including what school or community resources should be provided. As a part of intellectual preparation, read this article titled "Teaching about Sexual Assault in Young Adult Literature" and focus on the "Suggestions for Instruction.”

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What idea does Cisneros communicate about the experience of growing up in the vignettes "There Was an Old Woman…" and "The Family of Little Feet"? Cite evidence from both texts to support your answer. 

Sample Response

Upgrade to Fishtank Plus to view Sample Response.

Key Questions


Key Questions

  • Compare and contrast the vignette, "There Was an Old Woman She Had so Many Children She Didn't Know What to Do" to the nursery rhyme, "There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe." Provide specific evidence from both texts to support your answer.

  • How does "Darius & the Clouds" reveal Esperanza's innocence and wisdom? 

  • What does the fairy tale reference in "A Family of Little Feet" reveal about how Esperanza feels about growing up? 

  • How does the conversation between Rachel and the "bum man" have fairy tale qualities? How does it differ from fairytales? 

Exit Ticket

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

Vocabulary


Text-based

strutted

v.

(p. 40)

to walk with strength and confidence

fondly

adv.

with positive feelings; with affection (Mother Goose, line 4)

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 are gender norms and stereotypes, and how are they different from biological differences?

  • What role do family, friends, and media play in shaping children's understanding of gender roles?

  • How do gender norms influence emotional expression in boys and girls?

  • What are some suggested actions for combating gender-based stereotypes and promoting inclusion? 

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.7.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.

Supporting Standards

L.7.6
RL.7.1
RL.7.4
RL.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.a
W.7.10

Next

Explain the impact of gender roles and stereotypes on the lives of young people.

Lesson 9
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