Advocating for Change: Uprising & Flesh and Blood So Cheap

Lesson 16
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ELA

Unit 2

7th Grade

Lesson 16 of 33

Objective


Incorporate specific evidence from the text to explain the factors that influenced the outcome of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the impact of the fire on bystanders.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin  pp. 104 – 121

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A Note for Teachers


  • Today’s reading includes graphic descriptions of suffering and death, and there is one (blurry) photograph of two dead bodies in the chapter. Allow students time to process the information in this chapter.
  • Page 109 includes a quote by a factory owner who was talking about his employees: "Let ‘em burn. They’re a lot of cattle, anyway." This comment is dehumanizing as it compares the value of human life to animals. Be sure students acknowledge the inappropriateness of this comment.

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Could the tragically high death toll of the Triangle Fire have been prevented? Provide at least two pieces of evidence from today’s reading to support your answer. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • What safety features did the Asch Building have to protect against fires? How was the FDNY equipped to fight fires that did arise? Provide evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • What features of the Asch Building made it unsafe for workers in the case of a fire? Why weren't factory owners motivated to create safe conditions for their workers? Provide at least two examples from pages 108–109.

  • What specific factors led to the devastating number of lives lost in the fire? Provide at least five examples from pages 110-116.

  • What specific factors and events helped to save lives? Provide at least two examples from pages 112–118.

  • Why does Marrin include primary sources in this chapter to convey the effect of the fire on onlookers?

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: Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix  pp. 269 – 286

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is Jacob?

  • Where is Yetta when the fire begins?

  • Where is Bella when the fire begins?

  • How do the workers on the 8th floor respond when the fire begins?

  • Why does Yetta decide to go upstairs rather than outside where it is safe?

  • Why are Jane and the Blanck children at the factory?

  • Why does Jane go down to the 9th floor?

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.7.1 — Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
  • RI.7.3 — Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events).

Supporting Standards

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

Next

Explain how Haddix uses historically accurate details and dramatic irony to convey the events of the fire.

Lesson 17
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