Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Unit Plan by Amy Vatne Bintliff

Worksheet and Lesson Ideas in Order of Appearance:

 Our Neighborhoods: Confronting Stereotypes & Making Connections
 Teaching Imagery Activity
 ANSWER KEY: Chapter Questions (50 Questions)
 Student Chapter Questions (50 Questions)
 Exploring Vocabulary: caption, allusion and chronological
 Ninth Ward Final Projects
 Ninth Ward Final Projects Rubric
 Analyzing Word Choice: Fiction
 Analyzing Word Choice: Nonfiction
 Worksheet: Hurricane Katrina: The Storm that Drowned a City (video)
 Answer Key: Hurricane Katrina: The Storm that Drowned a City (video)
 Extension Activities: Discussing the Role of Media Reporting, Race,
Socioeconomics and Political Response to Hurricane Katrina
 Teaching Imagery

The objective of this extension activity is to really learn the close connection
between visualizing (reading strategy) and imagery (writing technique).

Lesson Steps:

1. Prepare the classroom by giving each student a piece of sketch paper and
scratch paper. Set out paints, pencils, colored pencils, etc.

2. Define imagery: language that appeals to the senses. Explain that good
imagery allows readers to really visualize a scene.

3. Inform students that you will be reading the pages describing the hurricane
out loud. As you read, students should listen and record notes about any
imagery they hear. (You can also project or write some of the sentences. An
example sheet is included of imagery from pages 127-130.)

4. Once an example “grabs them”, students can begin to sketch, draw or paint a
visual representation of imagery from the story.

5. Direct students to remain quiet during the reading and to be responsible for
getting the supplies and materials they need silently.

6. Read pages 127-137 out loud (soft cover version).

7. After reading, give students the rest of class to finish and clean up.

Trouble Shooting
Prepare students for the activity by allowing them to ask questions about the lesson
objectives first. The activity works best if students don’t talk or interrupt while you
are reading the passage.

I always have the text, or copies of the pages, for students who need to follow along
with the visual text.

I often play classical music after the reading ends. This holds the silence and
concentration.
Student Worksheet: Exploring Vocabulary
Name: _____________________________

What is chronological order?

Put the events from the 9th Ward into chronological order. Number 1 happens first
and number four happens last:

_________Mama Ya-Ya dies.

_________Lanesha celebrates her birthday.

_________Hurricane Katrina hits the 9th Ward.

_________The Mississippi River floods the 9th Ward.

Create a caption.

Photograph by David J. Phillip/Reuters, September 1, 2005

Photo Caption: __________________________________________________________

Allusion

What is Mama Ya-Ya alluding to in this sentence?

“You know how Noah, his family, and the world’s animals
survived the flood?” (p. 164)

Allusion: _____________________________________

What is a direct allusion to a famous toy in this sentence?

“Go on, now. I can take care of myself. Me, a baby doll.” Mama
Ya-Ya is puttering, taking her nightgown out of the drawer and
laying her glasses on the nightstand. She is grinning,
muttering, “Baby doll. Big windup toy. Chatty Cathy.” She is
happy. Laughing. (p. 13)

Allusion: _____________________________________
 ANSWER KEY: Chapter Questions
Directions
Record your answers to the following questions. Be sure to use as much detail as you can
to show that you comprehend the text.

This icon symbolizes a journal question. Journal questions ask you to

reflect on a deeper level and to make connections to your own life. Be sure to write at
least a full paragraph for each journal. You will be invited to share and discuss ideas
from the journal questions in class.

Some key critical thinking terms are italicized. Be sure to pay special attention to these
powerful words like infer, predict, summarize, interpret, etc.

Sunday

1. What does Mama Ya-Ya mean when she says that Lanesha has the sight?
Does anyone in your family have a gift like this?

a. Second sight is a form of extrasensory perception, the supposed

power to perceive things that are not present to the senses, [1]
whereby a person perceives information, in the form of a vision, about
future events before they happen (precognition), or about things or
events at remote locations (remote viewing).
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_sight)

b. Students may be interested in learning that other people work with

this gift. You may want to consider reading a blog from Judith Orloff,
for example. Do You Have Second Sight? By Judith Orloff
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/emotional-
freedom/201002/do-you-have-second-sight

2. Describe Lanesha’s family.

Lanesha’s mother died giving birth to Lanesha. Lanesha is not sure
who her father is. Mama Ya-Ya, an 82-year-old woman who was her
mother’s midwife, has raised her. Lanesha has a family who lives in
Uptown, but they are frightened of her. They are not involved in her
life. Mama Ya-Ya has raised her with great love.
3. Making inferences is when you use clues from a story to figure out what the
author doesn’t come right out and tell you. It is sometimes called “reading
between the lines”. How can you infer that Lanesha loves learning?
We know that she loves learning because she visits the library, reads
and memorizes Shakespeare, collects new vocabulary words, and
practices her handwriting. We later learn (p. 15 paperback) that
Lanesha works ahead on her mathematics homework.

4. How are signs and symbols an important aspect of Lanesha’s family culture?
Mama Ya-Ya has raised Lanesha to “look for the signs”. She has taught
Lanesha a whole list of signs and symbols from the meanings of colors
to the meaning of flowers. This love of signs and symbols was passed
on to Lanesha.

Monday

5. How have other children responded to the fact that Lanesha sees ghosts?
Kids at school tease Lanesha. They call her “crazy Lanesha” and
“spooky Lanesha”. The teasing is so much that she often goes into the
bathroom to hide.

6. Describe TaShon.
TaShon is a neighbor and classmate. He was born with extra fingers
that were cut off, so he has small stumps where his extra fingers used
to be. His father works at the wharf and his mother cleans at a casino.
TaShon is very quiet and is shorter than everyone in his class.

7. Respond to this quote: “At school, I don’t say, ‘Hey, TaShon,’

‘cause I’d only make his teasing worse. It isn’t fair.” What isn’t fair about
this? Have you seen this happen before?
Answers will vary.

Tuesday

8. Interpret, or explain the meaning, of this quote:

“I need all the signs. Dreams. Words. Word problems. Math.
Like air, they make my mind breathe.” (p. 31 paperback)