Al Capone Does My Shirts: A Tale from Alcatraz is set during the Great Depression in 1935. It's about 12-year-old Moose Flanagan and his sister Natalie, who has autism. When their father gets a job as an electrician on Alcatraz, the family moves there and the siblings have to adjust to living on an island that houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the world!
Have students create a storyboard that defines and illustrates vocabulary found in the book Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.
Storyboard Text
GUARD TOWER
ALCATRAZ
AUTISM
A guard tower is a tall structure designed to be able to view the surrounding area very well. Typically used in prisons, they allow guards to see if a prisoner is attempting to escape.
Alcatraz is a 22 acre island located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, CA. It was a federal maximum security prison from Aug. 1934 - Mar. 1963. When it was explored in 1775 by Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala, he named it Isla de los Alcatraces ("Isle of Pelicans"). From Nov. 1969 - June 1971 activist group, Indians of All Tribes, occupied Alcatraz to protest the government’s mistreatment of indigenous peoples. It is a popular tourist destination.
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that affects how the person experiences the world. Autism can cause a broad spectrum of social, communication, and behavioral challenges that can range from mild to severe.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTSTerms and Allusions
CONVICT
AL CAPONE
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is in the process of being built in the book and can be viewed from Alcatraz Island. The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 and at the time was the longest (at 4,200 feet) and the tallest (at 746 feet) suspension bridge in the world.
A convict, or "con" as they are sometimes referred to in the novel, is a person found guilty of a crime who is imprisoned.
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Al Capone (b. Jan. 17, 1899 — d. Jan. 25, 1947) was an American gangster who rose to prominence during the Prohibition era as the boss of the "Chicago Outfit" or Mafia, which he led from 1925-1931 before being sent to prison at age 33 on tax evasion. He made millions from racketeering and selling alcohol illegally. He was known to be brutal, murdering any opposition. He was transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 and was released in 1939.
Al Capone Image: By United States Bureau of Prisons - http://crime.about.com/od/gangsters/ig/Mafia-Mug-Shots/capone_al_4.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526938