Shoebox Ancestry

East of Eden Project

The plan

• As you finish reading this work I would like you to reflect on your own family history.

• Pat asked his father for a box. Steinbeck gave him the book.

Essential Questions

• What is your family's history?

• Where did they come from? Why?

• What does it mean to be from somewhere?

• What is Steinbeck saying about the notion of home?

Essential Questions

• Why does Steinbeck choose the Hamiltons on his mother's side?

• Why not the Steinbeck's on his father's side?

• Which side will you choose to write on? Why?

Essential Questions-Your Ancestry

• Consider the importance of setting.

• Where will you set your story? Why?

• What year will you set your story? Why?

Essential Questions

• Consider character development.

• Which family members will be major characters? Why?

• Which will not?

Essential Questions

• Consider thematic elements.

• What are your overarching themes?

• How will you introduce them? How will you develop them throughout project?

Reread-Dedication

• Reread Steinbeck’s letter to his son Pat.

• You will be making a box that you might pass on to your own child or a relative someday.

• It should hold essential information about your family.

• As you read, think about what you might put in the box to pass on to someone you love.

Getting Started

• You will be writing today.

• Use complete sentences for all your responses, please.

Group Activity/Chapter One

Working in pairs (your choice)

re-read Chapter 1 (part one and 2) and to note three important pieces of information that it gives about the history of the Salinas Valley and the history of the Hamilton family.

Use sentences please

WHAT DID YOU FIND? Share

On your own-brainstorm

On your own jot down some similarly key points about own home, town or region and/or own grandparents or relatives.

5 minute-start

• “My grandparents came from Ireland and France. I came from Milwaukee.”

• Sentences Please

Sticker Share

Save this writing for what is ahead

• Project - Ancestry in a Shoebox

• 400 points

Looking ahead

In the coming days be on the lookout for a box suitable for the project. It cannot be larger than a shoebox. (Athletic shoes included)

Put it in the box!

You will be expected to decorate it to represent your family history

Remember you are to pass to the next generation.

What’s inside the box?

• In the box you will place a picture and description, make a song or poem, write a letter and create a family flag or crest with detailed explanation. All you put in must fit with the cover closed.

GROUP ACTIVITY Making a rubric

Stuff you need

• Overview and understanding of purpose and content of box.

• Groups of two or three members

• Get paper

• Writer

• Reporter

Take note

• Fold the paper in quarters

• Dog ear at the center fold or fold to make triangle

• Open and lay flat

• Put the members of your group’s names in the diamond.

Label the four corners as follows:

• Exterior

• Interior

• Essential questions

• Qualities of good work

Project Rubric Ideas

• If you were the instructor of this class, what do you think should be required information in each student box?

• Remember the point if the assignment it to pass on family history.

EXTERIOR Brainstorm criteria or traits for outstanding:

Exterior-Square 1

• What requirements should be made for the exterior of the box?

– List at least three criteria

INTERIOR LINING Brainstorm criteria or traits for outstanding

Interior/Lining– Square 2

• What requirements should there be for the box lining or insides of the box?

–List at least three criteria

METHODS TO ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Brainstorm criteria or traits for outstanding

3 Essential questions

• Let’s think about contents of the box.

• Remember we are answering the essential questions.

• As you view each essential question come up with three items Minimum that might reflect the essential questions.

3 Essential questions– 3 items or more

• What is your family's history?

• Where did they come from? Why?

• What does it mean to be from somewhere? What is Steinbeck saying about the notion of home?

OVERALL QUALITIES OF OUTSTANDING ANCESTRY BOX

Brainstorm criteria or traits for outstanding

• In the box you will place a picture and description, make a song or poem, write a letter and create a family flag or crest with detailed explanation. All you put in must fit with the cover closed.

• List three qualities or criteria you would generally expect for each item

4 Qualities of good work

• Exterior

• Interior

• Essential questions

• Qualities of good work

Report out

Discussion Points

• Why does Steinbeck choose the Hamiltons on his mother's side? Why not the Steinbeck's on his father's side? Which side will you choose to write on? Why?

Discussion Points

• Consider the importance of setting. Where will you set your story? Why? What year will you set your story? Why?

Discussion Points

• Consider character development. Which family members will be major characters? Why? Which will not?

Discussion Points

• Consider thematic elements. What are your overarching themes? How will you introduce them? How will you develop them throughout the text?

LOOK AT YOUR 4-CORNER ACTIVITY Assigning Points

Assign point values = 200 pts

• What do you think the value of the assignment should be (points awarded based on work involved)?

Prioritize

• Now look at your ideas for required components for this project.

• Circle your best idea for the outside, inside and five content pieces for the essential questions.

Share with the class

Coming Soon!

• Project rubric with point value based on student responses.

• Please hand in your team four square response.

What can you do until then? Look for a box you might like to use

It must not be too big nor too small.

Keep it around the size of a shoebox

What needs to be in place:

a picture and description

a song or poem

a letter

a family flag or crest with detailed explanation

(2 optional pieces for enhanced credit)

Begin decorating the Outside

And the Inside

WHEN’S IT DUE?

Box and presentation dates:

MAY 15