A. Art projects for all three books:
*Benefits: Cultivation of fine motor skills, visual imagination, and class cooperation. Have students draw what intrigues them most about each story. Students can combine these drawings, adding cutouts, to create murals that tell a story visually. Such murals, or even simple drawings, may then be used to adorn classrooms, halls, the cafeteria, etc. Teachers at some schools have gone so far as to make up songs and dances about cats, snakes, suns and moons!
B. Social Studies:
*Benefit: Students examine their own family origins and develop empathy toward those from different backgrounds. Discuss the following questions and encourage students to speak to their parents about their family histories.
Who are the Mixtecs? The Zapotecs? (Two of the 17 indigenous peoples that live in Oaxaca, Mexico, preserving to this day their distinctive language and culture.) What is an "indigenous people?" (A group that has lived in a particular country or region since the time before colonists arrived from Europe.) What would it be like to come from a small village and move all the way to an American city to work? (The food, water, type of work, lifestyle, language and material surroundings would all be different.) Does anyone have family that lives in Mexico or in any other country besides the U.S? Can anyone describe the country of their ancestors and when their families came to live in their present locale?
C. Writing a Short Book Report: (See template.)
*Benefits: analytical thinking, spelling, and the satisfaction of having written a cohesive report. Use the "template" below to help students analyze any one of my books. Have students copy the given sentences from the blackboard while filling in the blanks with their own words. Remind them that they can use many words for each blank.
Template for a Short Book Report
Today we heard the story, ___________ (book's title.) The tale takes place ______________________(time, country, or geographical setting.) The book's main character(s) is ______________ . The __________ (main character) becomes ___________ (adjective: lonely, curious, jealous, etc.) because ___________ . So one day ______(character) decides to __________________ (character's main objective or quest). The problem is that ______________ (obstacle or unforeseen event). In the end, the _________ (character) ________________ (verb: character's action) but ____________(how story concludes.) The part of the story I liked best was ________________. I also enjoyed the _________. The only thing I didn't understand was ____________________. All in all, this story ___________ (verb) me and I certainly _________________ (final thought or recommendation.)
(Samples)
Today we heard the story, The Moon Was at a Fiesta. The tale takes place in the sky above Mexico. The book's main character is the moon. The moon becomes jealous because the sun has more fun, so one day she decides to have a party at night. The problem is that she celebrates too much. In the end, the moon keeps the people out all night and no one can do any work the next day. The part of the story I liked best was when the moon was tasting the food. The only thing I didn't understand was how the padrinos cooked the armadillo. All in all, this story delighted me and I will certainly recommend it to a friend.
Today we heard the story, The Twenty-five Mixtec Cats. The tale takes place in a dusty mountain village. The book's main characters are a healer and his cats. The healer becomes tired of never having enough money, so one day he decides to sell kittens door to door. The problem is that the neighbors are terrified of the cats. In the end, the cats rescue one of the neighbors from a curse and the people accept the cats once and for all. What I didn't understand was what happened to the evil healer. Still, this story made me want to read more and I certainly will read it aloud to my cat.
Today, we heard the story, Uncle Snake. The tale takes place long ago before lightning. The book's main character is a fearless young boy. The boy becomes curious about a forbidden cave, so one day he decides to sneek inside. The problem is that he comes out with the head of a snake and no curandero can turn him back. In the end, he must go back into the cave and bring lightning to stormy nights. What I didn't understand was why he wore the mask for twenty years. Still, the story intrigued me and I'll look for Uncle Snake when it rains.
