Classroom Activities
Design the Cover of Your Story
Lesson Essential Question: How do our experiences shape the story of who we are? - Students begin by discussing the meaning of their names and the places that have influenced their lives. After reading the selected vignettes from The House on Mango Street, students annotate passages that reveal Esperanza's identity and organize their evidence using Cornell Notes. They use those notes to design a new book cover that represents Esperanza's identity. The cover must include symbols, colors, quotations, and images supported by evidence from the text. Students then create a second cover representing their own life story using the same elements. They present both covers to the class and explain how family, language, community, and personal experiences have shaped each identity. The teacher models how symbolism communicates meaning and guides students in supporting every design choice with textual evidence.
My Family Heritage Museum
Lesson Essential Question: Why should family traditions be preserved? - Students begin by interviewing a family member about one tradition, celebration, belief, recipe, or object that has been passed through generations. After reading the opening chapter of Bless Me, Ultima, students compare Antonio's traditions with their own. They create a museum exhibit using photographs, drawings, family objects, recipes, or digital images that represent their family's heritage. Each exhibit includes a written explanation describing how those traditions influence identity and belonging. Students participate in a classroom museum walk and leave positive comments or questions at each display. The teacher facilitates discussion by helping students recognize common themes that connect families from different cultures.
My Roots Map
Lesson Essential Question: How do memories and places become part of our identity? - Students read the selected memoir chapter and identify important memories that shaped Santiago's childhood. They then create a personal identity map that illustrates places, people, traditions, languages, foods, celebrations, and memories that have influenced their own lives. Students may include photographs, drawings, magazine images, or digital graphics. Each section of the map includes a short explanation describing why that memory or place is meaningful. Students share their maps in small groups and identify experiences they have in common with their classmates. The teacher encourages students to recognize that every person's identity is built from unique experiences while also sharing connections with others.
Build a Community Memory Box
Lesson Essential Question: How can everyday objects tell the story of a culture? - After reading "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica," students identify the symbols that represent family, memory, and belonging. Working in small groups, students create a Community Memory Box containing five objects that represent their own culture, family, or neighborhood. The objects may be real items, photographs, drawings, recipes, tickets, letters, or other meaningful artifacts. Each object includes a short explanation describing why it belongs in the collection. Groups present their Memory Boxes and explain how ordinary objects preserve family stories and cultural traditions. The teacher encourages students to compare the symbols from the poem with the symbols chosen by their classmates.
My Family Through Art
Lesson Essential Question: How can art preserve family traditions for future generations? - Students closely examine Carmen Lomas Garza's "Tamalada" and annotate the visual details that communicate family, tradition, and community. They discuss how one family event can tell an important story about identity. Students then create an original illustration, painting, collage, or digital artwork showing one event that best represents their own family or culture. The artwork should capture a meaningful celebration, tradition, meal, holiday, or everyday moment. Students include a one-paragraph artist statement explaining why they selected the event and how it reflects their identity. The artwork is displayed during a classroom gallery walk where students leave written comments celebrating the similarities and differences represented in each piece. The teacher guides students in recognizing how visual storytelling preserves culture across generations.
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