Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the quotes mean to them.
Some students may end up choosing the same quote, but have different perspectives. This is always interesting for students to see and can open up a discussion as to how not everyone can read the same lines in the same way based on their own perspectives and personal experiences.
"Rosamund, when you die, they bury you, but your soul flies to the stars. Your mama, your daddy—they were buried under the ground, but they’re stars now, girl, stars beneath our feet.”
“If you only expose yourself to whatever everybody else does, you'll never create anything new.”
“I had learned it was better to share your stuff. You get back more than you think you would.”
“I guess it's quicker to tear down something than to build it up.”
“I wasn’t even sure how that worked. Could you really make somebody gay just by chatting with them? I hoped that I wouldn’t turn out that way, because I talked to a lot of gays. I actually do like them, but they got too much drama to deal with. So many people hate them and call them names that I don’t think it’s something anybody would really pick to be if they had a choice in it. Who would choose to be gay when they knew it was so much easier to be straight?”
“Breathing was about the only thing regular about how we lived.”
"I took pride in closely following the blueprints for each kit. Everything I built was exactly how it appeared on the box.”
" Especially not down at the barbershop. Promise me you won't go down there.”
"Our coyote was part of a species in danger. Hunted down and shot up. We knew how it felt."
"Our coyote was nowhere. Disappeared. Like everything else does sooner or later. Nicky was gone. Like Harmonee. Like Jermaine."
"Before I had come up here to visit him, I had felt better. Hoping for a life, maybe making art."
“The folks you hang out with can raise you up or bring you down low. Over time, they can make you think a certain way - change who you really are.”
“Since then I had learned the most important thing: the decisions you make can become your life. Your choices are you.”
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies your favorite quote or scene in The Stars Beneath Our Feet. Illustrate your quote and write what it means to you.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Quote or Scene, Illustration, 1-2 sentences about what it means to you.
Begin the lesson by explaining to students what a quote is. Tell them that a particular dialogue by a person that holds significant meaning in the story is called a quote. Teachers can use basic and simple definitions from dictionaries and also provide students with examples of quotes from their favorite characters to get their attention.
Once the students are more familiar with the concept of quotes and the process of the activity, ask them to select a quote they like the most from the story so that they can make a quote connection poster. Explain to the students how a quote connection poster includes their favorite quote from any character, a visual depiction of the quote, and an explanation of the quote from the perspectives of the students.
Ask the students to connect different quotes from the story to gain a deeper understanding of the narrative and the characters. This part might be a little harder for younger students at this stage however, teachers can help them understand the process through practice. Help the students form connections between different quotes they have chosen and ask questions to help them analyze.
Explain to the students how they can express their perspectives and opinions on a particular topic. To get the discussion started, ask the students why they selected a particular quote from a particular character and how can they relate this quote to their own lives. To help students think more critically, teachers can pose open-ended questions and guide the discussion further.
Conclude the exercise with a brief introspection. Find out from the students what they discovered by examining the quotations and links. Invite them to share their opinions and feelings regarding the narrative.
Teachers can ask the students to share their quotes and give an explanation of their selections to begin. Invite others to share their ideas and opinions. To get people talking more deeply about the topics and character development, provide open-ended questions. Encourage the students to express their perspectives on the quotes selected by other students and carry the dialogue by backing their points with logic and facts.
Students can make short films elucidating their favorite lines, utilize web resources for visual aids, or even produce digital presentations. Teachers can encourage the use of technology as a way to improve their creative abilities.