Identity 8: My Hair

Title: My Hair

Author: M. Hill

Subject: ELA

Grade: 6

Week: 2, Lesson 3

Unit/Lesson Plan #: Identity 8

Unit theme: Identity

Textbook references: "Hairs" from House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros (p. 6-7), Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (p. 11; 108-109)

Learning objectives:

- To include the idea of metaphor in our study of descriptive langauge

- To understand that writing can transform even the most simple topic (such as your hair!) into something exciting and beautiful!

Key Questions, Concepts, or Themes:

How is physical appearance a part of your identity? How can writing transform a simple idea into something more well-developed?

Stage 1:

JOURNAL: Draw a picture of your hair.

After journal drawing time, students add 5-10 words to their journal drawing to describe their hair.

Stage 2:

Read "Hairs" from House on Mango Street as a class (students should have individual copies). Students make notes of descriptive language that strikes them and other elements that they notice as they read the text.

DISCUSS: What descriptive techniques does Cisneros use to describe hair?

- Metaphor (may also revisit similes)

- Adjective use

- Personification 

- Associations/Five Senses

Can also have students read excerpts from Esperanza Rising to identify descriptive techniques (largely adjective use) in describing hair.

Stage 3:

Have students add at least 2 metaphors to their journal page that describe their hair.

Homework: Draft a descriptive narrative about your own hair - may use pages from assignment attached as scaffolds for students' individual writing.

Assessments: (attach/link copies)

_x_ Group assessment (discussion)

_x_ Observation of process/student work (journal)

__ Self-assessment by student

_x_ Teacher generated assignment

__ Written project

__ Test/Quiz

__ Other: ____________________________________