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Grade Level:
9 - 12
Literary Form:
American Novel
10 Lesson Plans/38 Handouts/81 pages
ISBN:978-1-56077-564-5
Regular Price: $19.95
On Sale For: $14.95 |
Description:
When a local fisherman from fictional San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is drowned under suspicious circumstances, a Japanese-American is accused of his murder. In this post-World War II community of mostly white faces, Kabou Miyamoto is considered guilty of the crime. His race is the primary factor in this assumption. The small island is haunted by more than one man’s death, however. David Guterson’s tale exposes the human frailties of the island’s citizens. Readers examine the values of redemption, equality, and responsibility and discover how to apply those values to their own lives. This novel is an effective way for students to explore a moment in American history as well as Japanese-American culture and traditions. By engaging and challenging students’ critical thinking abilities, this unit shows how prejudice and fear can affect a country in the midst of war and long after.
Activities:
Students examine literary elements such as symbolism, irony, plot, characterization, theme, flashback, imagery, and figurative language; use active reading strategies, including predicting, questioning, connecting, clarifying, and evaluating; keep a journal; analyze poetry; and respond to critical reviews. They also discuss the origins of prejudice, investigate the historical background of the novel, and explore cultural differences.
Ethical Values:
Courage, Endurance, Equality, Family Commitment, Integrity, Justice, Respect, Truth
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