Emergency Lesson Plans

eleven2

My_Name

Preparation: 1. Students can download the PDFs of “Eleven,” & “My Name,” by Sandra Cisneros if they want to read on the computer.
Days 1&2
Step 1: Read the short story, “Eleven,” by Sandra Cisneros. Using response notes (annotating text), to predict, question, connect, or visualize as you read.
Step 2: Visualize, Draw a picture of how you think Rachel feels when she is sitting in her classroom with the ugly red sweater. In the space below, write about how you feel about Rachel’s reaction to the sweater.
Step 3: Make Connections, Think of times when you didn’t feel as old as you were. Make notes about one memory you have when you felt younger than you were.

• What made you feel younger?
• How old were you?
• How old did you feel?

Jot down as many details as you can remember about that memory. You will use these notes in a later lesson.
Step 4: Write a Sentence about whether you think boys and girls both have experiences like Rachel’s, when they don’t feel
as old as they are.
Day 2
Step 5: One of the ways to read a piece of literature is to think “what if?”the story were different in some way. For example
how would your perspective change if the title of a character changed.
*Talk with a partner about how you might read this story differently if the title were different.
What other title would fit this piece? Would another title be more or less effective than “Eleven?”
Write your thoughts.
Step 6
*Talk with a partner abut how the story would change if it were told from a different perspective.
What if “Eleven” were a story of a boy at that age instead of a girl? How do you think the story would be different?
What if you were a student in Rachel’s class who remembered this moment of insensitivity toward Rachel? How
do yo think you would feel about this story now?
*Make up three or four different “What if” speculations and share them with you partner or writing group.
*Choose on of the “what if” speculations. Make some planning notes about details you could include when you write about this
speculation. Save the notes.