¡Viva Las Mariposas! Voice and Agency in In the Time of the Butterflies

Lesson 28
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ELA

Unit 4

9th Grade

Lesson 28 of 28

Objective


Draft and then create a final postcard that highlights the story of a woman or group of women fighting against injustice around the world.

Readings and Materials


  • Research materials 

  • 4" x 6" (postcard size) cardstock 

  • Art supplies 

  • Magazines 

  • Scissors 

  • Glue sticks or tape 

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

In "Butterfly Power," Alvarez reminds that "it is still a time for butterflies," calling on people to write and listen to stories that have the power to change the world. Additionally, as we learned in the podcast episode before starting the novel, Alvarez was initially inspired to tell the story of the Mirabal sisters when she was asked by a women's press to contribute a postcard for a campaign about Latina heroines. 

With both of those things in mind, research and then design a postcard for a woman/group of women who have exhibited great courage by using their voices to fight against injustice. Imagine that this postcard will be mailed out on November 25, the day the Mirabal sisters were murdered and later deemed by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In this imagined postcard drive, the public will be informed about the important contributions of women fighting injustices around the world.

List of Suggested Activists:

  • Wangari Maathai
  • Malala Yousafzai
  • Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi
  • Anastasiia Yeva Domani
  • Malti Tudu
  • Afghan women and the Taliban takeover (2021) 
  • Chilean women and arpilleras 
  • Takyiwaa Manuh
  • Emtithal Mahmoud 
  • Mahsa Amini and Iranian protests
  • Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi
  • Greta Thungberg and Luisa Neubauer
  • Zainab Fasiki

Requirements:

  • Front of the postcard should include:
    • Relevant images, symbols, and colors related to the activist and their cause.
    • A title or caption that represents their fight against injustice.
  • The back of the postcard should include:
    • 1–2 paragraphs that tell the important story of this woman/group of women.
    • Clear and concise writing, persuasive language, and an engaging tone.
  • Submit a bibliography (on a separate sheet of paper) of at least 3–4 credible sources used for research.

Sample Response

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Homework


Finish your postcard and bibliography.

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Standards


  • W.9-10.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
  • W.9-10.4 — Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • W.9-10.5 — Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
  • W.9-10.8 — Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.2
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.2
RI.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.6
W.9-10.9
W.9-10.10

Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

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