GOAL:
To analyze the relationships between characters in the story
ASSIGNED READING:
Chapter 11
WRITING PROMPT:
Draw a character map for Grandma Sands.
Have you ever met someone who was nothing like what you expected? Describe the situation.
Were you surprised at the way Byron acted when he met Grandma Sands? Why?
Do you think Byron will change permanently as a result of spending time with Grandma Sands? Why?
ONLINE PROMPT:
Use the Student Comment Form to share ideas and questions with your online peers.
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Ask students whether they find the characters in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 interesting and realistic. Point out that authors reveal a lot about their characters by showing how they interact with other characters. Suggest that as they read Chapter 11, they think about how the characters they already know interact with one they are about to meet: Grandma Sands.
During community share, you might discuss the irony of Grandma Sands's actual appearance when Kenny meets her. Define irony as a situation in which the reality is very different from what was expected. In the story, Kenny had certain expectations about what Grandma Sands would be like. He imagined a huge, mean-looking woman. Instead, she turns out to be tiny, and she welcomes her family with many hugs and tears.
Ask students what they think about Byron's behavior around Grandma Sands. Were they as surprised as Kenny to hear the "juvenile delinquent" start saying things like "yes, ma'am" and "no, ma'am"? Do they find this part of the story believable? Why?
Students may not understand why Dad says to Kenny, "Oh, no, et tu, Brute?" In Shakespeare's Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor is murdered by his friends and colleagues, including Brutus, the one he loves and trusts most. When Caesar realizes that Brutus has taken part in the conspiracy, he says, "Et tu, Brute?" meaning "And [even] you, Brutus?" Dad is thus humorously exaggerating Kenny's "betrayal" of asking whether they've arrived in Birmingham yet.
Click to go to Lesson 10.
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