House on Mango Street Unit

C ON CE PT S OF C OMP R EH E NS IO N: T HE HO US E ON M AN GO S T RE ET 6 T H G RA DE U NI T

Student Packet

Directions: Use your book to fill out the information on the lines below. Then write your name on this packet.

Title: The House on Mango StreetAuthor: ________________________________Genre: ________________________________

Concepts: Point of View, Setting, Character, Compare and Contrast, Plot, Sequence

Name: _________________________________________________

© 2010 Urban Education Exchange. All rights reserved

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Student Packet

Genre Lesson Independent Practice: Examining a Short StoryName: _____________________________ Date: _____________

Directions: Record the information about the story elements from the first story in The House on Mango Street in the inner circles. Then, write questions about what the author chose not to include in the short story around the appropriate story element.


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Characters

Plot Problem and Solution

Setting

Example: Why did the family move so many times?


Student Packet

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________________

Vocabulary Activity: Four Square“The House on Mango Street” — “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold”

Directions: For each word below, write the definition, examples of the word, and non-examples of the word. You may use a dictionary if you are unsure of the meaning of the words.


2. Word

inherit

Examples

Definition Non-examples

1. Word

temporary

Examples


4. Word

sassy

Examples


3. Word

raggedy

Examples


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Student Packet

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________

Comprehension Questions“The House on Mango Street” — “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold”

Directions: Read the questions and answer them in complete sentences or choose the correct answer. Use the book to help you, if needed. Use details from the text to support your answer. Record the Concept of Comprehension© on the line next to each question.

_____ 1. Describe the house that Esperanza and her family live in on Mango Street and compare it to the house that Mama and Papa thought they would live in.

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_____ 2. “But my mother’s hair . . . is the warm smell of bread before you bake it,” (p. 6) is an example of a(n):

a. idiomb. similec. metaphord. pun

_____ 3. What can you tell about how Esperanza feels about herself when she says, “I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor”? (p. 9)

a. She wishes her brothers were nicer to her and her sister.b. She wishes Nenny was not her sister.c. She wishes she could go somewhere else. d. She wishes that she could have more friends, but her responsibility is her sister.

_____ 4. What point of view is the story told from? Choose one sentence from the story to support your answer.

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_____ 5. Which word best describes how Esperanza feels about name?a. honoredb. happyc. satisfiedd. dislike


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Student Packet

Comprehension Questions (continued)“The House on Mango Street” — “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold”

_____ 6. Number the following events from the story in the order that they happened.

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____ 7. Explain why you think Esperanza gave Rachel five dollars.

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_____ 8. How does Esperanza want to be different than her great-grandmother? How are they similar?

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____ 9. Read the following sentence from the story. “And we’d have a basement and at least three washrooms so when we took a bath we wouldn’t have to tell everybody.” (p. 4)

Which word is a synonym for washrooms in the sentence above?a. kitchensb. laundriesc. bathroomsd. bedrooms

_____ 10. Describe Gil’s Furniture Store.

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Esperanza buys a bike with Lucy and Rachel and becomes their friends.

Esperanza and Nenny go to a junk store. Nenny wants to buy a music box, but the owner tells her it is not for sale.

Cathy says she will be Esperanza’s friend, but only until Tuesday because she will be moving away.

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Student Packet

Lesson 1 Independent Practice: Pointing Out the Point of ViewName: _____________________________ Date: _____________

Directions: Determine the point of view of three different versions of House on Mango Street by examining excerpts from the story in the boxes below. Then, using clues found in the excerpts, explain how you came to your conclusion.

PoV: ___________________________________________________________

How I know: _____________________________________________________

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How I know: _____________________________________________________

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How I know: _________________________________________________________________

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“One day we were passing a house that looked, in my mind, like houses I had seen in Mexico. I don’t know why. There was nothing about the house that looked exactly like the houses I remembered. I’m not even sure why I thought it, but it seemed to feel right.”

‘Look at that house, I said, it looks like Mexico.”“Rachel and Lucy look at me like I’m crazy, but before they can let out a laugh,

Nenny says: Yes, that’s Mexico all right. That’s what I was thinking exactly.” (pp. 17-18)

“One day, they were passing a house that looked, in her mind, like houses she had seen in Mexico. She didn’t know why. There was nothing about the house that looked exactly like the houses she remembered. She wasn’t even sure why she thought it, but it seemed to feel right.”

“’Look at that house,” she said. “It looks like Mexico.’”“Rachel and Lucy look at her like she’s crazy, but before they can let out a laugh,

Nenny says, ‘Yes, that’s Mexico all right. That’s what I was thinking exactly.’” (pp. 17-18)

“One day, they were passing a house that looked like houses she had seen in Mexico. There was nothing about the house that looked like the houses in Mexico.”

“’Look at that house,’ she said. ‘It looks like Mexico.’”“Rachel and Lucy look at her, but before they can let out a laugh, Nenny says, ‘Yes, that’s

Mexico all right. That’s what I was thinking exactly.’” (pp. 17-18)

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Student Packet

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________

Vocabulary Activity: One of These Words Is Not Like the Others“Meme Ortiz” — “A Rice Sandwich”

Directions: Read each group of words. Cross out the word that does not belong in the group. Then explain why the remaining words belong together.

1. jutting extending bulging cave in

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2. independently automatically manually mechanically

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3. pleated folded creased straightened

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4. rise descend drop dip

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5. shrink swollen enlarged expanded

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6. steady wobble wiggle shake

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Student Packet

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________

Comprehension Questions“Meme Ortiz” — “A Rice Sandwich”


_____ 1. What is unique about Meme Ortiz’ house?

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_____ 2. Which of the following sentences shows an example of how the story could be changed from first person point of view to the third person omniscient point of view?

a. “Esperanza got in the car and Louie’s sister sat on her lap.”b. “Esperanza thought to herself that the seats in Louie’s cousin’s car were big and soft like a sofa.”c. “He is my brother’s friend really, but I know he has two cousins and that his T-shirts never stay tucked in his pants.”d. “We hardly had time to think when the cop car pulled in the alley going just as fast.”

_____ 3. What does the following sentence from the story mean? “The nose of that yellow Cadillac was all pleated like an alligator’s and except for a bloody lip and a bruised forehead, Louie’s cousin was okay.”

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_____ 4. What problem do people have coming into Esperanza’s neighborhood? What problem does she face when she leaves her neighborhood?

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_____ 5. What does it mean when Esperanza describes Rosa Vargas’ kids by saying that they, “bend trees and bounce between cars and dangle upside down from knees and almost break like fancy museum vases you can’t replace”?

a. The throw their mother’s fancy vases to the ground while sitting in trees.b. They like visiting museums and looking at vases.c. They are so active and wild that they almost get seriously hurt.d. They are so strong that they can break trees in half with their bodies.


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Student Packet

Comprehension Questions (continued)“Meme Ortiz” — “A Rice Sandwich”

_____ 6. Compare and contrast the Alicia’s life with Marin’s life.

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_____ 7. Which of the following sentences indicate that Esperanza is not happy living on Mango Street?a. “All brown all around, we are safe.”b. “But next year Louie’s parents are going to send her back to her mother with a letter saying she’s too much trouble, and that is too bad because I like Marin.”c. “But what you remember most is this tree, huge, with fat arms and mighty families of squirrels in the higher branches.”d. “Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky.”

_____ 8. What is the problem in the story, “And Some More”?

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_____ 9. The chart below shows Esperanza’s with the high heels. Which event belongs in Box C?

Box A Box B Box C Box Da. The girls want to trade and take turns wearing the high heels.b. Lucy hides the shoes under a basket on the porch.c. Rachel kisses a bum and he gives her a dollar.d. The girls laugh at Rachel’s foot with a high heel and a girl’s sock.

_____ 10. Why is Esperanza embarrassed in “A Rice Sandwich”?a. The nun asks her to go home in front of the entire canteen.b. She does not have enough food to eat like the other students.c. The nun tells her she lives close to home and does not have to eat at school. She points to old homes that are not where Esperanza lives and she feels ashamed that the nun thinks of her that way.d. The nun yells at her for misbehaving in class.


Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy practice walking around in the heels. A neighbor says they are too young to wear them.

A neighbor gives Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy old high heel shoes.

Lucy and Rachel’s mother throws away the high heels.

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Student Packet

Lesson 2 Independent Practice: Picturing Perspective

Name: _____________________________ Date: _____________

Directions: After reading “Those Who Don’t,” draw a picture of Esperanza inside the frame. Record her thoughts and feelings about other people driving through her neighborhood in the thought bubble. Then, record details about Esperanza’s cultural background that might affect her perspective.


Cultural Background

Thoughts and Feelings about the Scared Drivers

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Student Packet

Lesson 2 Independent Practice: Picturing Perspective (continued)

How did Esperanza’s culture influence her perspective on the scared drivers?

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Student Packet

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________

Vocabulary Activity: Opposite Meanings“Chanclas” — “Minerva Writes Poems”

Directions: Read the sentences from the stories. The definition of each bold word has been provided for you. Write two to four antonyms of the word on the line provided. Then write a sentence using the word.

1. “Here a pillar of bees and this a mattress of luxury.” (“Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water,” p. 63)luxury: expensive, beautiful items that make life enjoyableantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________

2. “Ain’t it a shame." (“Geraldo No Last Name,” p. 66)shame: pity or sad thing to have happenedantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________

3. “’But answer came there none—and this was scarcely odd, because they’d eaten every one . . . ‘” (“Edna’s Ruthie,” p. 69)

scarcely: hardly, barelyantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________

4. “They send ferocious roots beneath the ground.” (“Four Skinny Trees,” p. 74)ferocious: fierce, wild, viciousantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________

5. “¡Ay! Mamacita, who does not belong, every once in a while lets out a cry, hysterical, high, as if he had torn the only skinny thread that kept her alive, the only road out to that county.” (“No Speak English,” p. 78)hysterical: a large cry due to being frightened or angryantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________

6. “Rafaela who drinks and drinks coconut and papaya juice on Tuesdays and wishes there were sweeter drinks, not bitter like an empty room, but sweet sweet like the island, like the dance hall down the street where women much older than her throw green eyes easily like dice and open homes with keys.” (“Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice on Tuesdays,” p. 80)bitter: harsh, sourantonyms: ____________________________________________________________sentence: _____________________________________________________________


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Student Packet

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________

Comprehension Questions“Chanclas” — “Minerva Writes Poems”


_____ 1. Why does Esperanza not want to dance at her cousin’s baptism?a. She does not want to dance with her uncle.b. She is embarrassed that her shoes are old.c. She does not know how to dance.d. She does not feel well.

_____ 2. What problems does Esperanza have at her job?

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_____ 3. What does “abuelito” mean? What does Esperanza say that helps the reader to figure out what “abuelito” means?

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_____ 4. Why does the author title the section, “Born Bad”?

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_____ 5. Describe Elenita’s home.

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Student Packet

Comprehension Questions (continued)“Chanclas” — “Minerva Writes Poems”

_____ 6. Number the following events from when Esperanza visited Elenita in the order that they happened.

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_____ 7. When Esperanza describes Earl’s dogs as, “They don’t walk like ordinary dogs, but leap and somersault like an apostrophe and comma,” (p. 71) she means that

a. they often scare people.b. they are very active and energetic.c. they have a problem with walking.d. they are often sick.

____ 8. What does Esperanza wish for in “Sire”?

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____ 9. Why are the four trees that grow outside Esperanza’s house important?a. She likes the trees because they shade her house from the sun.b. She feels she does not have any friends and the trees are the only ones that keep her company.c. She feels the trees are beautiful to look at and the only thing keeping her in her neighborhood.d. She feels that she does not belong in the neighborhood, just like the trees. However, the trees have grown even though there is concrete, so they help to inspire her.

_____ 10. Why is Esperanza’s neighbor, Mamacita, so upset?a. She does not understand English, is uncomfortable in the U.S., and her son learns to speak and enjoy English and she can’t understand him.b. Everyone in the neighborhood makes fun of her because she is fat.c. She becomes sick when she comes to the U.S.d. She does not have enough money to care for her son in the U.S.


Elenita tells Esperanza she sees a house of the heart. Esperanza is disappointed.

Elenita tries to get Esperanza to see something in the water, but she does not.

Elenita uses cards to read Esperanza’s future. She tells Esperanza that she will soon go to a wedding. Esperanza wants to know if Elenita sees a home in her future.

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Student Packet

Lesson 3 Independent Practice: Dueling Perspectives

Name _____________________________ Date__________________

Directions: Identify the main problem in the story, “Elenita, Cards, Palm, Water”. On either side of the problem, record each character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions about the problem. Use these feelings to compare and contrast the characters’ perspectives on the next page.


The Problem

Character #1

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Thoughts, actions, and feelings about the problem.

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Character #2

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Thoughts, actions, and feelings about the problem.

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Student Packet

Lesson 3 Independent Practice: Dueling Perspectives (continued)

Compare and contrast the perspectives of Esperanza and Elenita.

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Student Packet

Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________

Vocabulary Activity: Have You Ever?“Bums in the Attic” — “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

Directions: Think about the meaning of the following words from The House on Mango Street.

grumble, tame, porcelain, sour, bazaar, trudge

Answer the following questions about the vocabulary words.

1. Why would someone grumble?

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2. Would you like to be described as a tame person? Explain.

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3. Why must you be careful with something made of porcelain? Explain.

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4. Do you enjoy things that are sour? Explain.

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5. Give an example of something that you could buy at a bazaar.

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6. Why might someone trudge? Explain.

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Student Packet

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________

Comprehension Questions“Bums in the Attic” — “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”


_____ 1. Describe the type of house Esperanza hopes to live in one day.

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_____ 2. Compare and contrast how Esperanza and Nenny feel about getting married, as they have discussed in “Beautiful & Cruel”.

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_____ 3. Why does Esperanza’s mother feel disappointed in herself?a. She can’t speak English very well.b. She dropped out of school when she was younger. She wants to be more independent and not rely on her husband.c. She does not have many friends.d. She does not like her clothes.

_____ 4. How does Sally deal with getting beaten by her father?

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_____ 5. How does Esperanza try to help Sally in, “The Monkey Garden”?a. She goes to the boys with a brick and threatens them.b. She explores the garden with Sally.c. She gets Sally’s keys back from the boys.d. She hides under a tree.


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Student Packet

Comprehension Questions (continued)“Bums in the Attic” — “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

_____ 6. When Esperanza says, “I wanted to be dead, to turn into the rain, my eyes melt into the ground like two black snails,” (pp. 97-98) it is an example of a:

a. metaphorb. similec. hyperboled. personification

____ 7. What causes Esperanza feel guilty in “The Three Sisters”?

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_____ 8. Compare and contrast Alicia and Esperanza’s views of Esperanza’s home.

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____ 9. Which of the following best describes the house that Esperanza imagines having?

a. A place with garbage to be picked up.b. A porch with purple petunias.c. A flat owned by her father.d. An apartment.

_____ 10. What does Esperanza plan to do when she leaves Mango Street?a. Go away and never come back to Mango Street.b. Forget everyone she met on Mango Street.c. Take her sister Nenny with her.d. Come back and visit with the people on Mango Street that cannot leave.


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Student Packet

Lesson 4 Independent Practice: Retelling Plot Chart

Name____________________________ Date________________________

Directions: Fill in the Plot Chart with details from “The Three Sisters.”

Climax – the point of the story when the reader knows how the problem is solved


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Resolution: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Rising action – events that lead to the problem in the story

Falling action – events that lead to the solution of the problem in the story

Problem:

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Student Packet Answer Key

The House on Mango Street (Page references refer to the page that the activity appears on in the student packet.)

Examining a Short Story, p. 2Genre Lesson Independent Practice

Characters: Mama, Papa, Carlos, Kiki, Nenny, and NarratorQuestions about Characters: How old are the siblings and the narrator? What do the parents do for a living? Setting: House on Mango Street, located far on the other side of town; small, red, with steps in the front; has small windows and crumbling bricks; the door is hard to get through; no front yard, but has four elm trees planted by the curb; small garage and yard; one bathroom and shared bedroomsQuestions about Setting: Why did the parents choose to live in the house on Mango Street over another house? Why did the parents tell the children that the house on Mango Street was different then it really is? What state is the house located in? What are the other homes on the street like? Who else lives on the street? How do the other characters feel about this house?Plot Problem and Solution: Narrator does not like the house on Mango Street and dreams of living elsewhere; Narrator’s parents tell her the house on Mango Street is temporary, but she does not believe them.Questions about Plot Problem and Solution: Why is it so important for the narrator to move to the house she describes? Will the family ever move again?

Vocabulary Activity: Four Square, p. 3“The House on Mango Street” — “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold”

1. Definition: Something that lasts for a short amount of time; Examples: A cold; your age; Non-examples: ink; being someone’s daughter or son2. Definition: To receive a title, money, or a name from someone who has died; Examples: Being named after someone, receiving your grandmother’s house after she died; Non-examples: Buying a toy in the store, sharing your food with a friend3. Definition: Old, torn, and worn out; Examples: An old shirt, an old car; Non-examples: A new toy, a new car4. Definition: Rude, disrespectful; Examples: Calling out in class, leaving dinner without asking to be excused; Non-examples: Saying “please” and “thank you,” helping someone cross the street

Comprehension Questions, pp. 4-5“The House on Mango Street” — “Gil’s Furniture Bought & Sold”

1. S, Co/Co The House on Mango Street is a small, red brick house. The house is old and crumbling. There is no front yard and a small back yard. There is a small garage on the property. The house has one bathroom and everyone has to share a bedroom. This is different from the house that Mama and Papa wanted to live in which would have a basement, three bathrooms, a big yard with many trees, and a white fence.2. FL c. metaphor3. FL, C d. She wishes that she could have more friends, but her responsibility is her sister.4. PoV The story is told from the first person point of view of Esperanza. Sentences that students choose will vary, but should include pronouns that indicate that it is told from the first person point of view, such as “I,” “me,” or “my.” For example, “In English, my name means hope.” (p. 10)5. C d. dislike6. SEQ. 2, 3, 17. P, DC Esperanza probably gave Rachel five dollars for the bike because she was lonely. Her brothers would not talk to her outside the house. She had to watch Nenny all the time and her only friend, Cathy was moving away. She knew that when she gave Rachel the money, it was a chance for her to get to know Rachel and her sister, and maybe become their friend.


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8. C, Co/Co Esperanza wants to go out and see the world. She wants to be happy. Her great-grandmother was sad her whole life and did not experience much in life. Esperanza and her great-grandmother both had the same name and they were both strong women.9. ViC c. bathrooms10. S Gil’s Store is a small junk store with one small window. The store is very dark. The owner only turns on the lights when someone wants to buy something. There are rows of dusty tables, refrigerators, TV’s and couches piled on top of each other.

Pointing out the Point of View, p. 6Lesson 1 Independent Practice

Excerpt 1:PoV: First PersonHow I know: “We” refers to the narrator and the narrator’s friends. The narrator is referring to what “I remembered” and what “I was thinking.”

Excerpt 2: PoV: Third Person OmniscientHow I know: The main character is referred to as “her”, and her friends as “they”. What “I” was thinking is in quotations, so it does not mean that it is first person. Yet, the reader gets a glimpse of what the narrator is thinking and feeling. “It seemed to feel right,” is a clue to her inner thoughts.

Excerpt 3: PoV: Third Person LimitedHow I know: This is written in third person because “they” were passing a house. The only way the reader knows the main character’s internal thoughts are through spoken words and quotations. The narrator can’t get inside her head, therefore, this is written in limited voice.

Vocabulary Activity: One of These Words Is Not Like the Others, p. 7“Meme Ortiz” — “A Rice Sandwich”

1. cave in; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that sticks out.2. manually; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that works on its own.3. pleated; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that is bent or crumpled.4. rise; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that moves down or is lowered.5. shrink; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that has become larger.6. steady; The remaining words belong together because they can all be used to describe something that is unstable.

Comprehension Questions, pp. 8-9“Meme Ortiz” — “A Rice Sandwich”

1. S Meme’s house has slanted floors, no closets, and a huge tree in the back that squirrels live in.2. PoV b. “Esperanza thought to herself that the seats in Louie’s cousin’s car were big and soft like a sofa.”3. FL The car that Esperanza was riding in was greatly damaged in the accident. The front of the car was all banged up and bent and folded.4. P When people come into Esperanza’s neighborhood, they are scared and think that the people who live in the neighborhood are dangerous and will attack them. When Esperanza leaves her neighborhood, she no longer feels safe as she is of a different race then the people outside of her neighborhood.5. FL c. They are so active and wild that they almost get seriously hurt.


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6. Co/Co, C Marin lives with her aunt and cousins, sells Avon, and takes care of her cousins. She seems to be a bit of a rebel and her aunt feels she is too much trouble. She does not really have a plan for her life. Alicia lives with her father and takes care of him. She is smart and goes to college because she wants a better life for herself.7. P, C d. “Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky.”8. P The problem in the story, “And Some More” is that the kids are all picking on each other and making fun of each other for no reason.9. SEQ. b. Lucy hides the shoes under a basket on the porch.10. C c. The nun tells her she lives close to home and does not have to eat at school. She points to old homes that are not where Esperanza lives and she feels ashamed that the nun thinks of her that way.

Picturing Perspective, pp. 10-11Lesson 2 Independent Practice

Vocabulary Activity: Opposite Meanings, p. 12“Chanclas” — “Minerva Writes Poems”

1. poor, poverty, need2. pride, honor, respect3. commonly, frequently4. gentle, tame, calm5. calm, peaceful6. sweet, pleasant

Comprehension Questions, pp. 13-14“Chanclas” — “Minerva Writes Poems”

1. C b. She is embarrassed that her shoes are old.2. P, C The problems that Esperanza has at her job are that she has to lie about her age in order to get the job; she does not know if she is allowed to sit down; she feels lonely during her break and stays in the coatroom; she eats her lunch in the bathroom; and an older man kisses her and makes her feel uncomfortable.


“Those Who Don’t”

The Character

The Event Identify the Character’s Cultural Background

Identify the Character’s Thoughts and Feelings

about the EventEsperanza People who do

not live in Esperanza’s neighborhood drive through the neighborhood.

Esperanza and her family are from Mexico. The neighbors in her neighborhood are probably also from there or African-American because Esperanza describes the people as, “All brown all around.”

Esperanza and the neighbors seem tough and unafraid of outsiders. She says that, “we aren’t afraid.”

Esperanza does not like that the people who come into the neighborhood are scared and think that Esperanza and her neighbors are dangerous and have knives. She says that “they are stupid people” and “we are safe.”

How did Esperanza’s culture influence her perspective on the scared drivers?Esperanza knows what the people in her neighborhood are like. When she says, “we are all brown all around, we are safe” it shows that the people who live in her neighborhood are all alike and comfortable with each other. Since she lives there and knows that her neighbors are harmless, she feels that the people who drive though her neighborhood are “stupid” to think that Esperanza and her neighbors are “dangerous” and will “attack them with knives.”

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3. ViC Abuelito means grandfather. Esperanza’s grandfather has passed away. The reader knows what abuelito means because Esperanza says, “And I think if my own Papa died what would I do.” Her grandfather is Papa’s father and Esperanza is imagining how she would feel if Papa died.4. AP The author titles the section, “Born Bad” because Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy make fun of Esperanza’s Aunt Lupe who became sick as an adult. They did not realize she was going to die. After she dies, Esperanza thinks something bad will happen to her.5. S Elenita’s home has a color TV. in the living room with red, furry couches covered in plastic. Her refrigerator has colored candles, a saint, and a cross on top of it; she has a picture of a voodoo hand on the wall. Her sink is filled with dirty dishes.6. Seq. 3, 1, 27. FL b. they are very active and energetic.8. P Esperanza wishes that she could take the place of Lois, who is Sire’s girlfriend. Sire is a boy that Esperanza has a crush on. She wishes she had a boyfriend.9. S, C d. She feels that she does not belong in the neighborhood, just like the trees. However, the trees have grown even though there is concrete, so they help to inspire her. 10. P a. She does not understand English, is uncomfortable in the U.S., and her son learns to speak and enjoy English and she can’t understand him.

Dueling Perspectives, pp. 15-16Lesson 3 Independent Practice

Problem: Esperanza wants a nicer house.

Esperanza’s thoughts: Esperanza is disappointed that the witch woman didn’t say she saw a new and improved house in Esperanza’s future. She saw a “home in the heart.” Esperanza is sad.

Elenita’s thoughts: Elenita is busy taking care of her own family and is not too concerned with looking into Esperanza’s future. She can tell Esperanza is sad, so she double checks her predictions.

Compare and contrast the perspectives of Esperanza and Elenita.Esperanza is disappointed because she wants a new home that is nicer than her current house on Mango Street. Elenita, on the other hand, is older and knows how difficult it might be for Esperanza’s family to get a newer home. She has the wisdom to know that home is in the heart.

Vocabulary Activity: Have You Ever, p. 17“Bums in the Attic” — “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

1. grumble: to complain about something2. tame: unexciting or dull3. porcelain: hard ceramic material used to make cups and dishes; it is easily breakable4. sour: having an acid or tart taste5. bazaar: a street marketplace where many goods are sold6. trudge: to walk very slowly with a lot of effort

Comprehension Questions, pp. 18-19“Bums in the Attic” — “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

1. S Esperanza hopes to live in a house that is on a hill with gardens. She wants her home to be close to the stars where nothing wakes her up except the wind. She does not want to worry about anything.2. Co/Co, C Esperanza worries that she is not attractive enough to get married and she will have to live with her parents for the rest of her life. Nenny feels beautiful, wants to get married and move out of the house, but does not want to have a baby and then have to move.3. P, C b. She dropped out of school when she was younger. She wants to be more independent and not rely on her husband.4. C/E Sally deals with getting beaten by her father by telling people that she fell. She also tries to take her things and move in with Esperanza.


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5. P, C a. She goes to the boys with a brick and threatens them.6. FL b. simile7. C, C/E Esperanza feels guilty in “The Three Sisters” because Lucy and Rachel’s aunts tell Esperanza to make a wish and she wishes to be able to move out of the neighborhood. Esperanza feels guilty because she realizes that it is selfish.8. Co/Co Esperanza feels like she really does not have a home like Alicia does because Alicia is from Guadalajara. Esperanza feels that she will not have a real home until she leaves Mango Street. Alicia thinks that Esperanza’s home is her house on Mango Street.9. S b. A porch with purple petunias.10. P d. Come back and visit with the people on Mango Street that cannot leave.

Retelling Plot Chart, p. 20Lesson 3 Independent Practice

Rising Action: Rachel and Lucy’s sister died of a high fever. The family held a funeral, and the three sisters attended, along with Esperanza.Problem: Esperanza wishes to leave her house and Mango Street behind.Climax: The three sisters grant her wish.Falling Action: Esperanza is surprised that they knew what she silently wished for. The sisters tell her that she must come back for the others.Resolution: The sisters disappear like a dream, and Esperanza is left wondering what they meant.


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Unit Assessment

Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________

Sixth Grade Short Stories Unit AssessmentThe House on Mango Street

Directions: Read each question. Circle the correct answer, or respond by writing complete sentences. You may use your book to help you find information from the story.

1. Short Stories:a. have multiple plot problems.b. have more than two main characters.c. show a long journey over time.d. show a slice of life.

2. Read the following excerpt from “My Name.” Identify the point of view and explain how you figured out the point of view.

“I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window.” (p. 11)

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3. How does being named after her great-grandmother impact Esperanza? a. She wants to carry on her family’s tradition.b. She wants to get married and taken care of like her grandmother did.c. She wants to be strong like her grandmother was.d. She wants to live her life and experience things, unlike her great-

grandmother who let her life pass her by.

4. What does the author purposely leave out from the story, “Meme Ortiz”?a. Where Meme lived before moving into Cathy’s house.b. If Meme’s father lives with the family.c. The names of Meme’s two dogs.d. All of the above.


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Unit Assessment

5. Read the following excerpt from “A Rice Sandwich”:“In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls watched while I cried and ate my sandwich, the bread already greasy and the rice cold.” (p. 45)

How can the excerpt above be rewritten in the third person omniscient?a. “In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls

watched while I cried and ate my sandwich.” “The nun asked me, ‘Why are you crying?’”

b. “In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls watched while I cried and ate my sandwich.” “I asked a boy, ‘Why are you looking at me?’”

c. “In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls watched while Esperanza cried and ate her sandwich.”

d. “In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls watched while Esperanza cried and ate her sandwich. She thought to herself that the bread was already greasy and the rice was cold.”

6. How is Mamacita’s perspective of her son speaking English influenced by her cultural background in “No Speak English”?

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7. Which of the following is the main problem of the book, The House on Mango Street?

a. Esperanza cannot get over the death of her aunt and grandfather.b. Esperanza is struggling to make friends in her neighborhood.c. Esperanza is trying to find where she fits into her neighborhood.d. Esperanza is trying to break away from her sister Nenny, who she has

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Unit Assessment

8. Retell “The First Job” using the language of the plot elements.

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9. How is the main plot conflict in The House on Mango Street resolved in “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”?

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10. Compare how Alicia of “Alicia Who Sees Mice” and Marin of “Marin” feel about living on Mango Street.

a. Marin wants to leave Mango Street and will do so by getting an education, while Alicia wants to stay on Mango Street.

b. Alicia wants to leave Mango Street and will do so by getting an education, while Marin wants to stay on Mango Street.

c. Alicia and Marin both want to leave Mango Street, but Alicia will do so by getting an education, while Marin plans to find a man who will take her away from the neighborhood.

d. Alicia and Marin both want to leave Mango Street, but Marin will do so by getting an education, while Alicia plans to find a man who will take her away from the neighborhood.


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Unit Assessment

11. Describe how Esperanza believes she is like the four skinny trees on her street in “Four Skinny Trees.”

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12. Which of the following events from “A Rice Sandwich” belongs in Box C?

Box A Box B Box C Box D

a. Esperanza’s mother says she does not want Esperanza eating at the canteen.

b. Esperanza tells her mom that if she ate at school, there would be fewer dishes to wash.

c. The nun embarrasses Esperanza by making her point out her house. Esperanza does not tell her she is pointing to the wrong one.

d. Nenny says that she does not want to eat at school.

13. Compare and contrast how Esperanza and Darius of “Darius & the Clouds” feel about living on Mango Street.

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Esperanza asks her mom to write a note to the principal so she can eat in the canteen.

Her mom finally agrees and sends her to school with the note and a rice sandwich.

Esperanza sits in the canteen crying and eating her cold rice sandwich.


Unit Assessment

14. How does Esperanza’s experience living on Mango Street impact her opinion of the hill houses where her father gardens in “Bums in the Attic”?

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15. Which of the following best describes the house that Esperanza wants in “A House of My Own”?

a. A house that she can live in with her family.b. A house that is safe, has a porch, and does not belong to a man.c. A house that has many bedrooms and bathrooms. d. The house that she lives in on Mango Street.

16. Choose one of the following places on Mango Street and describe the setting below.

Elenita’s House Gil’s Furniture Store The Monkey Garden

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17. What do Esperanza’s mother, great-grandmother, Mamacita, and Rafaela have in common?

a. They are not happy and fulfilled.b. They cannot speak English.c. They are not young enough to go dancing anymore.d. They love coconut and papaya juice.

18. In “Hips,” what does Esperanza mean when she says Nenny is “too many light years away”?

a. Nenny is not very smart and does not pay attention to Esperanza.b. Nenny is still a child and does not understand growing up.c. Nenny is dreaming of space travel.d. Nenny is much better than the other girls at jumping rope.


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Unit Assessment

19. Retell “Born Bad,” making sure to include key elements of the plot.

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20. How does Esperanza’s perspective of Mango Street change by the end of the book?

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Unit Assessment Answers

1. d. show a slice of life.2. This excerpt is told from the first person point of view because it uses “I.”3. d. She wants to live her life and experience things, unlike her great-grandmother who let her life pass her by.4. d. All of the above.5. d. “In the canteen, which was nothing special, lots of boys and girls watched while Esperanza cried and ate her sandwich. She thought to herself that the bread was already greasy and the rice was cold.”6. Mamacita’s perspective of her son speaking English is influenced by her cultural background because Mamacita may not feel like she chose to travel to the United States. She may feel isolated. When her son learned to speak English, she may have felt like he was viewing the U.S. as his new home and leaving his old culture behind. By not learning English, Mamacita is hanging onto her culture.7. c. Esperanza is trying to find where she fits into her neighborhood and her world.8. In “The First Job,” the rising action is that Esperanza needs to get a job to help pay for school. Her Aunt Lala finds her a job working at the photo finishers. The problem in the story is that she became tired at her job, she was scared to eat in the lunchroom, and did not know what to do during her break. The climax of the story is when she becomes friends with a man who works the night shift. The falling action is when Esperanza does not feel nervous anymore. The resolution is that he tricks her into being her friend, grabs her face, and kisses her. 9. The main plot conflict in The House on Mango Street is resolved when Esperanza realizes that she fits in on Mango Street. She accepts her neighborhood and herself. She realizes that she can use her writing as a way to escape from the neighborhood. If she does leave, she wants to return and see how the people are doing.10. c. Alicia and Marin both want to leave Mango Street, but Alicia will do so by getting an education, while Marin plans to find a man who will take her away from the neighborhood.11. Esperanza believes she is like the four trees on her street because like the trees, she sees herself as someone who does not belong on the street and is stuck there. She also feels that she is strong like the trees and knows she will grow like them, despite it being difficult.12. c. The nun embarrasses Esperanza by making her point out her house. Esperanza does not tell her she is pointing to the wrong one.13. Esperanza does not like living on Mango Street because she feels like the view of the sky and clouds is blocked. She also does not think there are enough flowers in her neighborhood. Darius has a positive outlook and imagines that a cloud in the sky looks like God.14. Esperanza’s experience living on Mango Street impacts her opinion of the hill houses because even though she wants a house like the ones on the hill, she is too embarrassed to go visit them because she feels like people are staring at her. She also feels that her parents are making a false promise to live in a house like those on the hill because they previously promised her that and then they moved to the house on Mango Street. She decides that while she does want to live in a house like those on the hill, she will buy it on her own, rather then wait for her parents to buy one.15. b. A house that is safe, has a porch, and does not belong to a man.16. Elenita’s House: Her house is filled with children and is messy. Kool-Aid is spilled on the table. There is a living room with cartoons playing on the color T.V. The furniture in the living room is red, furry, and covered in plastic. In the kitchen, the refrigerator has holy candles on the top of it along with a plaster saint, and a dusty cross. There is a picture of a voodoo hand taped to the wall. The sink is filled with dirty glasses. Gil’s Furniture Store: The store is a small junk store with no lights and one dirty window. The store is filled with upside down tables, refrigerators, couches, and T.V.’s The items are set so close together that the aisles are very narrow. The store is very dusty. The Monkey Garden: The garden is a place in the neighborhood that a monkey used to live until he moved to Kentucky with his owners. The neighborhood kids play in the garden that was filled with sunflowers, cockscombs, bees, fruit flies, peach trees, roses, thistle, pears, weeds, and green apples when the monkey was there


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The earth was damp and smells like rotting wood. Rocks were on the ground along with yellow spiders, worms, ants, and lady bugs. Now that the monkey has left, the garden is overgrown and filled with weeds. People leave old cars in the garden. The kids make a clubhouse in the back of an old car.17. a. They are not happy and fulfilled.18. b. Nenny is still a child and does not understand growing up.19. Answers will vary, but students should retell the plot making sure to include the rising action, problem, climax, falling action, and resolution. Rising Action: Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy play a game making fun of people they know. They make fun of Esperanza’s Aunt Lupe. Problem: Aunt Lupe dies. Climax: Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy think they will go to hell because they made fun of Aunt Lupe before she died. Falling Action: Esperanza remembers that her aunt listened to her poems and encouraged her. Resolution: Esperanza realizes that even though she was mean to her aunt, she needs remember have how her aunt encouraged her.20. Esperanza perspective of Mango Street changes by the end of the book because when she first moves to Mango Street, she feels upset and embarrassed. She feels like her parents mislead her to moving into a house that she did not want. Later in the book, her parents go looking at houses that Esperanza would like to move to, but she refuses to go with them because she feels like people are looking at her. She also feels like her parents are misleading her. She decides she will get the house that she wants on her own. When she visits her aunt, her aunt encourages her to write. At the end of the book, still wants to move away from Mango Street, but decides to come back to remember where she came from. She also wants to visit her neighbors and tell them about her new house and experiences, which they may never get the chance to do.


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Unit Assessment AnalysisUse the Unit Assessment Answers to mark each student’s assessment. Then refer to the following table to formally assess your students’ performance on their Unit Assessment. The table shows how each question is aligned to the concepts in this Unit. If a student gets question 1 wrong on the assessment, you will know that this student may benefit from a reteaching of Genre, since question 1 is a Genre question. Use the table to pinpoint what Concepts your students need additional practice with.


Concepts

Seq. DC G PoV FL Cl/Ca C P C/E S Co/CoQuestion #

1 X2 X X3 X X4 X5 X X6 X X X7 X X8 X X9 X X

10 X X X11 X X X12 X13 X X X14 X X15 X16 X17 X X X18 X19 X X20 X X X

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Use the following table to find the questions that are specifically aligned to the lessons and learning outcomes for the unit.


Question Lesson(s) Learning Outcome(s)1 Genre Students will be able to examine the depth and breadth

of a short story.

2 1 Students will be able to identify the point of view in multiple short stories, including third person limited and omniscient.

4 Genre Students will be able to examine the depth and breadth of a short story.

5 1 Students will be able to identify the point of view in multiple short stories, including third person limited and omniscient.

6 2 Students will be able to interpret how character’s perspective is influenced by his or her cultural background.

7 4 Students will be able to retell a short story’s plot using the language of the plot elements.



10 3 Students will be able to compare and contrast multiple perspectives in a collection of short stories.




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House on Mango Street Unit

Documents

Transcript of House on Mango Street Unit