Objective
By the end of this lesson, Mila will be able to understand the main themes of "Real to Me" by Minh Le and Raissa Figueroa, discuss the characters and their feelings, and create her own story inspired by the book.
Materials and Prep
- Copy of "Real to Me" by Minh Le and Raissa Figueroa
- Pencil and paper for writing and drawing
- Colored pencils or markers for illustrations
- Quiet reading space
Before the lesson, make sure to read the book together with Mila or have her read it independently if she's comfortable. Discuss any unfamiliar words or ideas as they come up.
Activities
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Character Exploration: After reading the book, ask Mila to choose her favorite character. Have her draw a picture of that character and write a few sentences about what makes them special. This helps her connect with the character on a personal level.
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Feelings Chart: Create a feelings chart together. Mila can list different characters and the emotions they experience in the story. This activity encourages empathy and understanding of emotional expressions.
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Story Creation: Encourage Mila to create her own short story inspired by "Real to Me." She can think about her own experiences or feelings and write them down. This will help her practice her creative writing skills.
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Discussion Time: Have a casual discussion about the book. Ask Mila open-ended questions about her thoughts and feelings regarding the story. This can help deepen her comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Talking Points
- "What do you think the main message of 'Real to Me' is?"
- "How did the characters feel at different points in the story? Can you give an example?"
- "Why do you think it's important to understand how others feel?"
- "Can you relate to any of the characters? How so?"
- "What was your favorite part of the book and why?"
- "If you could be any character from the story, who would you be and why?"
- "What kind of story would you like to write? What would it be about?"
- "How do you think the author wanted us to feel when we read this book?"