2. Students today you will… - Identify what makes up a person’s sense of culture and self. - Compare and contrast culture and/or self identification similarities and differences in your journal. - Collaborate your thoughts with your classmates. - Create your personal understanding of your own cultural identity through constructing a “Call Me…” poem.

3.  What different elements create a person’s cultural identity?  What does it feel like to be excluded from the mainstream culture? Included?  Why is it important for a young adult/teen to feel included? How might one achieve inclusion?

4.  Journal Response Questions  Class Discussion of Journal Responses (Groups of 4)  Creation of “Call Me…” Poem  Sharing of Poems and Written Responses

5. - You are moving to a new city and a new school where you barely speak the native language, people dress differently, and you experience a complete change of scenery. Write a letter to someone close to you, describing the experience, comparing and contrasting the new culture versus your own. Use your imagination. - Think and write about your own culture and how it influences who you are today, i.e. music, traditions, language, customs, sports, movies, etc. Compare and contrast it to another culture you are familiar with, stating similarities and differences. - Recall a time where you were noticeably culturally different in a group of people or in a situation in your life. What made you stand out? How did that feel? Compare and contrast it to a time where you felt included and explain why.

6. Instructions  Number off to 1-4.  Meet with groups.  Exchange journal entries with one another.  Share one piece of writing or a common theme within the group with the whole class.

7. Throughout the book Call Me Maria, Maria uses poetry to describe herself and lets the reader know who she is through her vivid descriptions. In This Activity You Will…  Construct a poem describing yourself and how you see your cultural identity. It must contain these elements:  - At least two cultural/background references  - At least one description of scenery (something relatable to you)  Use descriptive words (Think 5 senses: touch, sound, taste, smell, see). This will also help you in creating a picture to go along with your poem.  - Uniquely describe yourself i.e. Do you play sports, types of music, speak multiple languages, certain family traditions, holidays, do you have a secret hidden talent?  Include a picture to go along with your poem. Paper and colored pencils will be provided.

8. Call me Isabela I am half and half Divided and united by Both Mexican and Kansan descent I call the Great Plains my home And speak Spanglish With my family far away on the phone I eat pepperoni pizza and gringa quesadillas I listen to acoustic melodies and can salsa on the weekends I dance beneath the stars to the music I call the Great Plains my home And watch the rolling sea of wheat In the August sun Call me Isabela

9.  Share your poem with your shoulder partner.  On the bottom of the poem (or in any blank space provided) answer the following questions:  How are your poems alike? How are they different?  Based on the activities we’ve done today, what do you think the book is about?  Please write your name following your responses. This will be your ticket out of the door for the day.

10. We will…  Share shoulder partner’s poem with the class.  Have a classroom discussion/ sharing of independent research based upon the web questions Call Me Maria handout given as homework.  Read pages 1-28 in class.  Discuss more about what a cultural identity is.