Show Me a Sign

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Represent Your Culture

In this activity, students will bring an item to class that represents the unique aspects of their family or culture. Students will share the item and explain how this connects to Mary's character and the object that is important to her.

Mary carries George’s Map and uses it as both a remembrance of her brother and a representation of her culture. Select your own item that represents your family or your culture to share with others. Draw parallels between your item and the item Mary carries to celebrate your culture.

Use these questions to guide reflection and writing about your item:

• In what ways have you felt as though your family/culture is different from other families/cultures? How is this similar to Mary’s experience with differences?
• Describe your item and explain how it represents your unique family/culture. How does Mary's map represent her unique family/culture?
• What unique experiences make you feel attached to the item? How is this related to Mary’s attachment to George’s map?
• How can you, like Mary, be an example to people who are prejudiced?
• How is your item related to the celebration of differences and diversity?

As time allows, share your item with the group and communicate the ways in which it represents your family or culture.

Teaching Suggestion: Because this activity requires complex text-to-self connection, students might benefit from a scaffolded approach. Students might brainstorm differences between friends such as religious beliefs, cuisine, moving from a different city, or traditions that are unique to the family. Emphasizing the importance of celebrating the unique attributes of each family and culture may benefit learners as well. Prior to having students present their object, you might consider having students record how they consider their culture/family unique, and then plan which object from home best represents this.