Friendship Across Boundaries: Return to Sender

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 5

5th Grade

Lesson 3 of 29

Objective


Explain what happens in the chapter that Tyler doesn't fully understand. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez  pp. 3 – 16

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Read the sentence from page 16: "Sometimes in life he just has to accept stuff he'll never ever understand."

What does Tyler mean by this? What happens in this chapter that Tyler doesn't fully understand? Paraphrase details from the text to help support your answer.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • What does it mean if someone is trespassing? How does Tyler react to the people "trespassing" on the farm? Why does he react this way?

  • Why does Tyler call the farm "bad-luck farm"? Does the name fit? 

  • How does Tyler respond to the situation on the farm? How does his mother respond? What is similar and different about their responses? Why? 

  • On the way back from Boston, Tyler's mom surprised him with the best news ever. What news did his mom share? Why did Tyler think this was the best news ever?

  • Tyler adopts the attitude of "no questions, no worries." How does this both help him and hurt him?

Vocabulary


trespassing

v.

to go on someone's land without their permission

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.5.3 — Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Supporting Standards

L.5.4
L.5.5
RF.5.3
RF.5.4
RL.5.1
RL.5.4
RL.5.10
SL.5.1
W.5.10

Next

Explain how the letter helps a reader better understand Mari and her relationship with her family. 

Lesson 4
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