Identity in Action: Secret Identity

Title: Identity in Action: Secret Identity

Author: M. Hill

Week: 6

Unit/Lesson Plan #: Identity/Diversity

Unit theme:Identity/Diversity

Textbook references:

Elements of this lesson adapted from www.tolerance.org/teach

Learning objectives:

- To understand identity in context - and how individual identity interacts with cultural identity at-large

Key Questions, Concepts, or Themes:

Stage 1:

Warm-up: Respond in your ELA journal - Was there ever a part of your identity that you had to hide? (or, have you ever felt you were made fun of for a part of your cultural identity (such as a food you eat, traditional clothing you wear, religious celebrations, your home language, etc.)? Describe the experience.

Stage 2:

Read "Magic Carpet" (http://www.tolerance.org/images/teach/activities/mixitup_magic_carpet_08... ) out loud as "Reader's Theatre"

Stage 3:Class discussion questions based on "Magic Carpet" & issues of Identity-Diversity (possibly as concentric circles?):

- What was the author's childhood experience like? What parts of her identity did she want to hide? Why do you think this is so?

- So, how is her experience different now? What parts of her identity does she regret hiding? Why?

- Why do you think the author decided to write about these experiences?

- Have you ever made fun of someone because of a cultural trait or part of their identity? Or, have you ever been made fun of - or seen someone else being made fun of - because of a cultural trait or part of your identity? How did the situation make you feel?

- What situations can you think of that force people to give up part of their cultural identity?

- What deos the author mean by the "magic carpet"?

Homework: (attach/link digital resources): Students will be given a chance to write about their own "magic carpets"... Do you have a "magic carpet" that you and only a few others share? What is your "magic carpet" like? With whom do you share it? Would you like to share it with more people? Why? If you don't have a "magic carpet," is there a "magic carpet" you'd like to have? What is that "magic carpet" like?

Assessments: (attach/link copies)

_X_ Group assessment

_X_ Observation of process/student work

__ Self-assessment by student

__ Teacher generated assignment

_X_ Written project

__ Test/Quiz

__ Other: ____________________________________