“SOME DAYS” BY BILLY COLLINS

WHOSE LIFE IS IT, ANYWAY?An exploration of who or what influences our choices

AUDIENCE

11th grade students, Spring Semester Dinuba High School

89% Hispanic, 9% White, 1% Asian, 1% other

50% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 27% English Learners

CHOICES CONCEPT CLUSTER

Choices

Who/What influences

our choices?

What?Who?

Examples

Personal

Influences:Family, Friends, Society, Religion

Definition:The right, power or

opportunity to choose

Definition:A person or thing being

chosen

Synonyms:

DecisionPreferenc

eOption

Chooses:Me, Parents, Best Friend,

Boss

What College

?

What Profession

?

What do I

believe?

I am responsible

for my choices

I feel like I don’t get to choose

what I want

MAIN TEXT: BLESS ME, ULTIMA

This story is about a young boy, Antonio, who struggles to decide who he is and who he will be as he navigates the many forces influencing his life.

Features: Bilingual Setting: New Mexico

CHOICES: FAMILY

Bless Me, Ultima Hispanic tradition: Two last

names—Luna & Marez Luna—Priest or Farmer? Or

Marez—Vaquero? Supporting Texts:

“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid “Generations of Gangs”

Channel 17 News Report Key Activities

Parent Interview Poem for Two Voices (Luna

vs. Marez) Personal “Girl” Poem

CHOICES: FRIENDS & RELIGION

Bless Me, Ultima Tony’s friends: “The Gang” Samuel, Cico, & Florence Tony’s friendship with Ultima

Supporting Texts: “Myth of Matsya” & “Noah’s Ark” “Interview with Brother David”

Key Activities: Event Organizer: Protecting Ultima, Ch. 12 Q&A Graphic Organizer: Ch. 17 Act-it-Out for Ch. 18 Partner Interview: Religion, Death, & Afterlife

CHOICES: CONSEQUENCES

Bless Me, Ultima Choices—loss of innocence Choices & consequences—death

Supporting Texts: “The Road Not Taken” “Interview with Brother David”

Key Activities: Decision Chart: Plot on a Right/Wrong axis Decision Tree: How could this have gone differently? Domino Effect: Media, Choices, and Consequences

CONCLUSION:

Choices Collage and Reflection Paper Collage representing Who/What influences your choices 1-2 page reflection:

What does the collage represent? What have you learned from our readings? In general? What did you conclude about “Who or What controls your life?”

Beyond the Classroom: All choices have consequences

You can’t go backward, only forward You ultimately control the choices you make

You may be influenced, but if they are your consequences, they should be your choices