The Road to Freedom Thematic Unit Writing Lesson: Personal Narrative – Journey to America

The teacher will draw and complete a graphic organizer as a demonstration for what the students will be completing in this lesson.

Items to include in graphic organizer: Connect it to from the Journal of Hannah Smalls, Follow the Drinking Gourd Name (full name) Native Country (town/city and country) Family members Current location Family traditions Ethnicity Stops along the way from home country to new home Native foods New foods Pastimes Anything special about native culture

Now students are going to work with a partner to complete their graphic organizers. As students work, the teacher will circulate to help if needed. If the students finish early, they will be directed to begin to look for visual aids for your personal narrative Next the students will take their graphic organizers and make them into written stories with visual aids The teacher will share the following example.

My grandfather’s name was Giuseppe Alessio.

He lived in Altomonte.

Altomonte is in the Calabria Region of Italy.

He moved to America in the mid 1900s.

He went to Ellis Island and then to Hazleton, PA.

I grew up in Hazleton, PA.

My family eats lots of Italian food.

Our favorite meal is the Feast of Seven Fish on Christmas Eve.

We ate this meal before going to Midnight Mass.

My grandparents had many family members who came to Hazleton. We had parties in their backyard. We danced and played Bocce Ball.

I live in Central PA.

I continue my grandfather’s traditions with my family. My kids and I eating cannolis in New York City.

Now students will work independently to write their personal narrative Now students will work independently to write their personal narrative. The teacher will circulate to help students as they work. As students write, they will also look for pictures to include in their presentations. In the next lesson, the students will present their narratives to the class.