English Language Arts 

MS 7th Grade ELA work packet  

Week 1 
Directions: ​This packet contains all of your ELA work for the week. Use this packet to guide your 
work for the entire week. You can take notes on notebook paper or in your own word processor. Each 
week, two of the assignments will need to be turned in via Google Classroom to your teacher. This 
packet will tell you when to type into one of these “Deliverables” packets. Please complete Lessons 1-4 
by Thursdays at 11 a.m. Lesson 5 can be completed on Friday.   
  

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Lesson 1​: Pages 63-73  

Today is a video day! Watch the ​Lesson 1 video​ to get started! Remember, you can find all of your 
materials, including our novel, in Google Classroom. 
 
Notes from the Video Launch  
● We are back in the present day – Dede is the only surviving sister 
● Minou, Dede’s niece, is Minerva’s daughter 
● Fela is a longtime servant of the family 
● Key Vocabulary: Ambivalent – ​having two strong feelings at the same time 
● Key Schema –​ C ​ atholicism and Spirits: I​ n general, it is frowned upon in the Catholic church to 
communicate with spirits in the way that Fela says that she does 
● Key Terms from the Prompt:​ P ​ erspective – a
​ character’s thoughts or feelings on a particular subject 

Annotations 
Remember to take annotations on the 4 C’s and any areas of focus. Use the grid in your deliverables 
packet to record your notes. You only need to annotate key moments.  

Please submit today’s annotations in deliverable packet 1! 

 
   

Today’s Prompt:​ ​What is Dede’s perspective on the past? ** 

Remember to write a full paragraph, ​with 2 pieces of evidence​. Stuck? Look at the next page for some 
helpful hints. 

Please submit today’s response in deliverable packet 1! 

(Remember, there are hints on the next page if you get stuck.) 
  

Stretch: ​Optional, EC – How does Alvarez communicate Dede’s perspective? What technique or literary element 
does she include to show us how Dede feels in this moment?  

Please submit today’s response in deliverable packet 1! 

  
   

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Lesson 1 - OPTIONAL – Final Write helpful hints: 

Are you stuck? Don’t worry! Use the following prompts to help guide 
your thinking. You don’t have to answer them in full sentences. Once 
you’ve thought about them and jotted some notes, go back and re-try 
the prompt on page 1. 

Hint 1: Reread page 65. What is Dede’s reaction to Minou’s interaction with Fela? Why does she react 
this way? What does it tell us about her perspective? Jot in your notebook or word processor. ** 

Hint 2: Now keep reading on page 65. How does Minou react to Dede? What impact does that have on 
Dede and her perspective? Jot in your notebook or word processor. 

   

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Lesson ​2​: Pages 73-77  

Today is an independent day. Read pages ​73-77​ and 

complete the tasks on your own. ** 
Annotations ** 
Remember to take annotations on the 4 C’s and any areas of focus. In your 
notebook (or on a word processing program), draw a grid that looks similar to the one below. You only 
need to annotate key moments.  

Page  Annotation (3-8 words is fine) 

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Today’s Prompt:​ ​How does Dede feel about Lio? **
Remember to write a full paragraph, ​with 2 pieces of evidence​. Jot in your notebook or  
word processor. ** 

  

   

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Lesson 3​: Pages 77-83  

Today is a video day! Watch the ​Lesson 3 video​ to get started! Remember, you can find 
all of your materials, including our novel, in Google Classroom. 
 
Notes from the Video Launch  
● Earlier in the text: ​Dede and Jaimito spend a lot of time with Minerva and Lio; Dede 
feels excited about the time she spends near Lio – an enemy of the state. 
● Key Vocabulary:  
o Juxtaposition: Two distinct ideas places side by side, often for emphasis 

Annotations 
Remember to take annotations on the 4 C’s and any areas of focus. Use the grid in your deliverables 
packet to record your notes. You only need to annotate key moments.  

Please submit today’s annotations in deliverable packet 2! 

  
 
Today’s Prompt:​ ​In this chapter, Alvarez juxtaposes Dede and Jaimito’s relationship with 
Lio and his involvement in the revolution. What does this juxtaposition tell us about Dede’s 
feelings about the revolution?​ ​Remember to write a full paragraph, ​with 2 pieces of evidence.​ Stuck? Look 
at the next page for some helpful hints. ** 

Please submit today’s response in deliverable packet 2! 

(Remember, there are hints on the next page if you get stuck.) 
  

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Lesson 3 - OPTIONAL – Final Write helpful hints: 

Are you stuck? Don’t worry! Use the following prompts to help guide 
your thinking. You don’t have to answer them in full sentences. Once 
you’ve thought about them and jotted some notes, go back and re-try 
the prompt on page 1. 

Hint 1: Reread the last two paragraphs before the page break on page 76. What is Dede’s perspective? 
How does she feel about revolution here? Jot in your notebook or word processor. ** 

Hint 2: Reread the last two paragraphs on page 83. Dede just became engaged to Jaimito, who is not 
in favor of the revolution. What does Dede decide to do with the letter from Lio? What does this suggest 
about her perspective on the revolution? Jot in your notebook or word processor. 

   

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 English Language Arts 
 
Lesson 4​: Pages 84-93  

Today is an independent day. Read pages ​84-93​ and 

complete the tasks on your own. ** 
Annotations ** 
Remember to take annotations on the 4 C’s and any areas of focus. In your notebook 
(or on a word processing program), draw a grid that looks similar to the one below. You only need to 
annotate key moments.  

Page  Annotation (3-8 words is fine) 

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Today’s Prompt:​ ​In this section of text, Minerva discovers that her father has had an affair 
and has four other children. How does her reaction to this characterize her? **
Remember to write a full paragraph, ​with 2 pieces of evidence.​ Jot in your notebook or  
word processor. ** 

  

   

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 English Language Arts 
 
Lesson 5: Weekly Step-Back!   

Today is an independent day. Read and complete the 

task below. 
Congratulations, you just finished a week studying ​In the Time of the Butterflies​! Take 
some time now to journal in response to the text. Your journal can be in the form of a story, poem, journal 
entry, letter to the character, work of art, or any other creative idea you have! Jot in your notebook or word 
processor. ** 

Note:​ I​ f you’d like to discuss what you wrote today, please share it with your teacher during office hours. 
 
 

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