Write the following names in your notebook, leaving a few lines between each name: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington. Discuss what you know about these people, and record what you know in your notebook. What do these people have in common? Look for more information about these people so you are familiar with their contributions to America.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first section of the text aloud. Where is the story set? How do you know? What do you know about the setting of the story? Where is the artist from? What do you know about the narrator’s home?
2. Continue reading the story on your own. Think about what you know about the setting as you read. How does knowing about the setting help you to understand the characters and their actions? Based on your prior knowledge about the people listed in the Before Reading activity, what does the wall represent?
If you have difficulty connecting to prior knowledge, take a break from the story. Consider what you know about the setting and the characters. Think about other stories or about life experiences you have had that are similar to the characters’ experiences or that took place in a similar setting. Write down your literary or personal experiences and make connections to the text. Continue reading the story, taking breaks as needed to reflect on your experiences.
Write an essay describing how your knowledge of the people depicted on the wall helped you to identify the theme of the story. You might also note how past experiences—both literary and personal—helped you to understand the characters and the setting. When finished, share your essay with two or three other students. Discuss how applying the reading strategy helped you to understand the story.