PASHTUN, HAZARA, AND KITES: OH MY! (OR, AN INTRO TO THE KITE RUNNER)

Essential Questions: 1.Can a person redeem themselves/”be good again?” 2.How do social influences shape a person’s reality? Why it matters How you will show your learning Journal Entries Class Participation Structured Academic Controversy Final Analysis Essay KITE RUNNER UNIT INTRO

The Kite Runner: Values and Relationships Brainstorm a list of YOUR “basic principles” (values) Brainstorm a list of times you have and have not acted on them Pick one and write in detail about the event. Did you do the “right thing?” How did you feel about your actions? How did it affect others? Try to identify where each one came from (your parents, friends, religion, experiences, etc.)

In Small Groups Discuss your journal entries Discuss why you think I’m having you brainstorm this information when we’re talking about Kite Runner

What’s your current knowledge about Afghanistan? You can include: -how you know about the country -what you’ve heard in the news -what you’ve learned so far from Kite Runner -things you’re not positive are correct

CORNELL NOTES REVIEW (on the board)

WHAT DOES KITE RUNNING LOOK LIKE?

KITE FLYING/RUNNING year-old pastime Forbidden under Taliban rule Involves two people Razor or glass wire Children pick up cut-down kites in the streets

THINK-PAIR-SHARE What is kite running? Why do you think kite running is important in Afghan society? Why do you think it’s important in the book? Can you relate kite running to anything in your life or American society?

AFGHANISTAN

PASHTUN First main character of KR: Amir Dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan Historically, regard themselves as the “true Afghans” Governed by an honor code, “Pashtunwali” Speak Pashtu Sunni Muslims Used to ruling the country

HAZARA Second main character of KR: Hassan One of the many minority groups of Afghanistan In modern times, live in mountainous central region of the county Typically little social status Often work at difficult, low-paying jobs Shia’a Muslims (traditional rivals of the Sunnis)

TALIBAN Political group Extreme fundamentalist Muslims Ruled Afghanistan post-1989 (after Russians left) until 2001 U.S. invasion Want all of society to adhere exactly to their interpretation of the Quran Forbid women from education, working outside the home

BE A LITERARY FORECASTER! Prediction: A forecast about what will happen in the future (in a book). Using what you learned today, how do you think the main characters’ (Amir and Hassan) social positions affect their friendship? Hint: Think about their values and how they might act on them.

HOMEWORK (YAY!) Continue reading The Kite Runner While reading, think (take notes, maybe!) about this: During the next KR lesson, you will write a paragraph about whether you still think your prediction is accurate. In it, you will include at least TWO reasons why.

EXIT TICKET -What is your prediction for The Kite Runner? (Copy this from your notebook.) -What are your TWO supporting pieces of evidence for your prediction? (These can be from today’s class or from the book.) -What chapter are you on in KR? -How do you now feel about reading The Kite Runner? Why?