Students will be presented with a suitcase filled with souvenirs and keepsakes from a trip to Mexico. They will discuss the significance of each of the objects and then write stories based on items, describing who they belong to, where they’ve been, and what they’ve seen. The students will share these original stories in a “Suitcase Show.”
Created by Donna Bass, September 2006
The student is expected to locate the community, Texas, the United States, and selected countries on maps and globes. TEKS §113.4. Social Studies, Grade 2. (b)(6)(B)
The student is expected to participate in rhymes, songs, conversations, and discussions. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(1)(C)
The student is expected to compare language and oral traditions (family stories) that reflect customs, regions, and cultures. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(2)(B)
The student is expected to ask and answer relevant questions and make contributions in small or large group discussions. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(3)(C)
The student is expected to use vocabulary to describe clearly ideas, feelings, and experiences. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(4)(A)
The student is expected to write to record ideas and reflections and to discover, develop, and refine ideas. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(14)(A,B)
The student is expected to gain increasing control of aspects of penmanship such as pencil grip, paper position, stroke, and posture, and using correct letter formation, appropriate size, and spacing; use word and letter spacing and margins to make messages readable; use basic capitalization and punctuation correctly such as capitalizing names and first letters in sentences, using periods, question marks, and exclamation points; use more complex capitalization and punctuation with increasing accuracy such as proper nouns, abbreviations, commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks. TEKS §110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2. (b)(15)(A,B,C,D)
Lesson Objectives: Student will create an original story using a writing prompt. Student will locate their community, Texas, the United States, and selected country (Mexico) on map.
Ask students if anyone has ever traveled before. Then, bring in a suitcase with airline insignia on it. Have students brainstorm the following: What are some things you can tell me about this suitcase?
What do you think is inside the suitcase? Who do you think the suitcase belongs to? By looking at it, where do you think it might have seen in its own suitcase life?
Items in suitcase: Map of the Yucatan, photos from trip, video of iguana chases, field clothes, my “Rainforest hat.” Revisit the idea that these souvenirs and suitcase mark the things that make a trip noteworthy, or special. These will vary depending on the destination and travel experiences of the teacher. Students will be shown model of iguana before viewing the video of the iguana in the Yucatan. Discuss the significance of each item and what purpose it served. Share about an exciting journey you (the teacher) have been on, by modeling the writing process as you share your story.
Invite students to write their own.
At this time, students will share about one of their writing experiences. Review the conventions of writing as the students are responsible for capitalization, punctuation, and neatness.
Students will use their own imaginations to create a story about the suitcase. Their stories will include the following:
Come together and share. Display and invite others to come to your very own “Suitcase Show.”
Lesson Materials:
Iguana Video - IMLS funded trip to the Yucatan (Windows Media) Suitcase Caper Power Point (Right Click to save as a PowerPoint) from the 2006 Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad Program (Mexico) IMLS funded trip to the Yucatan (Right Click to save as a PowerPoint) Vea esta lección en Español aquí.
Links to Related TIDES Art Activities:
Spanish AlphabetDay of the Dead Coloring Activity Paper Flower Chain
