EXPLORATION: Around the World Read-Aloud | Whole Class
I Will Always Write Back How One Letter Changed Two Lives By Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda Summary & Info
Excerpt, pp. 1–23 . In this dual memoir, American Caitlin Alifirenka and Zimbabwean Martin Ganda recount how they became friends through letters. In this excerpt, 12-year-old Caitlin Alifirenka signs up for a pen pal in Zimbabwe, and writes a letter describing her life. Only ten letters arrive in Martin’s class, and Martin gets one because he is the top student. That’s when their friendship began. Genre : Fiction I GRL : Y I Pages : 416
VOCABULARY vibrant (adj.) bright (p. 3) ancestral (adj.) related to ancestors, or family members, that lived long ago (p. 6) ferocity (noun) the quality of being dangerous or violent (p. 15) liberation (noun) the act of freeing someone or something from imprisonment or oppression (p. 22) SENTENCES a. We were studying my ancestral homeland, Peru, where my great grandparents were born. b. The North Sea is known for the ferocity of its storms. c. People dreamed of liberation from the forced labor camps. d. The flamenco dancers performed in bright, vibrant costumes. Question of the Day How do people form friendships across cultures? Ask students to consider how people connect when they don’t share the same traditions, beliefs, or language.
Guide students through the steps outlined here, instructing them to fill in their Student Handbooks along the way. Students can work independently, with partners, or in small groups. Pause after each step to share responses. #1: Form a First Impression Preview: Show students the cover of the book and read the title. Students write what they notice, possibly identifying the two continents. #2: Show What You Know Activate prior knowledge: Students write about how people from different cultures can connect with one another. Possible answers: through food, music, sports, TV/film, and pop culture. #3: Make a Prediction Read students the subtitle of the book. Students write about how a letter could change two lives by connecting people in different parts of the world and building an important relationship. #4: Learn Some Words Here are some words from this book that are connected to main ideas from the unit and book. Discuss these words with your students, and then ask them to complete the sentences. (Answers provided here.) Unit Question Remind students that this unit focuses on real and fictional people who travel the globe to find new futures for themselves, reveal hidden histories, or protect others, and asks: How can reading expand our worlds?
10 Scholar Zone Summer: Reading & Writing
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