Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home, by Youme

1   Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home  Teacher’s  Guide Cinco Puntos Press, 701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901 / www.cincopuntos.com

 TEACHER’S  GUIDE  ALIGNED  WITH  COMMON  CORE  STANDARDS    

Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home  

by Youme

Mali and her family live together in Laos. They cook meals and celebrate together. To remind themselves that their hearts will always be together, they tie strings around their wrists. A dangerous war comes closer and closer to Mali and her family, and so in the middle of the night they decide to escape. When they come to a river, they cross in a tiny boat while Mali's mother makes an offering, hoping that they will get across safely. Even though they cross the river safely, Mali and her family are imprisoned for not having homes. Being in jail is very difficult and takes its toll on Mali, but she tells all of the other prisoners about her family, which gives everyone hope. The following questions are aligned with CCSS standards for literature for grades 2-3. You will find the corresponding standard after each question. Questions  Before  Reading  

1. What do you think this story is about? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

2. Who is the little girl in the illustration on the cover of the book? Who is the woman? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7)

3. What are Mali and her mother doing? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7)

4. The title says that the book is a “Lao Story of Home.” What does that mean? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4)

Questions  During  Reading  

1. What does Mali ask everyone in front of her house? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

2. Who do you think the people are in front of the house? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.7)

3. Why doesn't the speech bubble look like writing in English? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.4,

Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home, by Youme

2   Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home  Teacher’s  Guide Cinco Puntos Press, 701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901 / www.cincopuntos.com

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4)

4. Where is the story taking place? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

5. Where did the people go? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

6. Why does Mali say, “Quick, quick?”(CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

7. Why would Mali's family nap when it is hot? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-

Literacy.RL.3.1)

8. What kinds of food does Mali eat with her family?(CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

9. Why does Mali's family tie strings around their wrists? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3)

10. Why did everyone stop traveling near Mali's home? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3)

11. Other than the families, what is disappearing?(CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

12. Why does Mali's family decide to leave her home? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3)

13. Where does Mali's family hide when they hear soldiers? Why? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3)

14. How does Mali's family cross the Mekong river? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

15. Why does Mali's mother put rice and flowers in the water? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

16. What does sabai mean? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4)

17. Where does Mali's family sleep and why? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

18. Why do the men arrest Mali and her family? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1)

19. How does Mali feel when she is in jail? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3)

20. How does Mali make herself and others feel better in the jail? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3,

Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home, by Youme

3   Mali  Under  the  Night  Sky:  A  Lao  Story  of  Home  Teacher’s  Guide Cinco Puntos Press, 701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901 / www.cincopuntos.com

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3) Questions  After  Reading  

1. Retell the story in your own words. What happened first, next, then, and last? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.5)

2. In many parts of the book, Mali uses her native language. Why do you think the author chose to include words in another language in the book? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.4)

3. What does Mali look like? How would you describe Mali? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7,

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.7)

4. What is most important to Mali? How does this help her get through a difficult situation? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.2)

5. What can we learn from Mali about getting through hard times? (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.2,

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.2)