Bibliography:
Lai, T., & Lai, T. (2011). Inside out & back again. New York: Harper.
Lai, T., & Lai, T. (2011). Inside out & back again. New York: Harper.
Reading Level:
An AR reading level of 4.8 (4th/5th grade) with an interest level of middle grades (4th - 8th grade)
An AR reading level of 4.8 (4th/5th grade) with an interest level of middle grades (4th - 8th grade)
Suggested Delivery: Small group, Independent
Summary:
The Vietnam War is going strong, but it has not yet hit the city of Saigon. For the first ten years of her life, Há lived in Saigon. She celebrated her country’s traditions and looked forward to a bright future that included growing her papaya tree. However, her life changes when Saigon falls. Her family is forced to flee to the safety of America. Her journey transcends the physical to a journey of finding herself in a strange country.
The Vietnam War is going strong, but it has not yet hit the city of Saigon. For the first ten years of her life, Há lived in Saigon. She celebrated her country’s traditions and looked forward to a bright future that included growing her papaya tree. However, her life changes when Saigon falls. Her family is forced to flee to the safety of America. Her journey transcends the physical to a journey of finding herself in a strange country.
Vocabulary:Tết (page 1): Vietnamese New Year
Glutinous (page 1): sticky
Papaya (page 2): a tropical fruit that grows on trees
Moped (page 12): a small motorized bicycle
Communist (page 18): a person who support Communism
đồng (page 19):Vietnamese money
Whim (page 24):a sudden desire
Hồ Chí Minh (page 27):a North Vietnam communist leader
Communism (page 28):a system of government where war is desired in order to achieve an ultimate end
Ancestral (page 51):something inherited from past relatives
Gaunt (page 54):skeletal-like
Diacritical mark (page 140): a mark added to a letter to show special pronunciation
Hogwash (page 163): idiom for ‘nonsense’
Solitude (page 173): the state of being alone
Yearning (page 176): to want something
Curiosity (page 193): a strong desire to know something
Superstitious (page 215):a belief is the unknown such as ghosts and magic
Glutinous (page 1): sticky
Papaya (page 2): a tropical fruit that grows on trees
Moped (page 12): a small motorized bicycle
Communist (page 18): a person who support Communism
đồng (page 19):Vietnamese money
Whim (page 24):a sudden desire
Hồ Chí Minh (page 27):a North Vietnam communist leader
Communism (page 28):a system of government where war is desired in order to achieve an ultimate end
Ancestral (page 51):something inherited from past relatives
Gaunt (page 54):skeletal-like
Diacritical mark (page 140): a mark added to a letter to show special pronunciation
Hogwash (page 163): idiom for ‘nonsense’
Solitude (page 173): the state of being alone
Yearning (page 176): to want something
Curiosity (page 193): a strong desire to know something
Superstitious (page 215):a belief is the unknown such as ghosts and magic
Before Reading Activity:
Activate students’ prior knowledge (if any) about the Vietnam War, refugees, and reading a novel in poetic form.
Give short lesson on key facts about the Vietnam War to create background knowledge students can connect to during reading.
Activate students’ prior knowledge (if any) about the Vietnam War, refugees, and reading a novel in poetic form.
Give short lesson on key facts about the Vietnam War to create background knowledge students can connect to during reading.
During Reading Activity:
Have students keep a reading journal that recaps major events from the story. After recapping the main events, have students reflect on those events. For example, when Há has to leave her home country have students reflect on how they would feel if they had to leave their home country for a new country they have never been to.
Have students keep a reading journal that recaps major events from the story. After recapping the main events, have students reflect on those events. For example, when Há has to leave her home country have students reflect on how they would feel if they had to leave their home country for a new country they have never been to.
After Reading Activity:
Have students construct a poem about a wish or dream they have.
Have students construct a poem about a wish or dream they have.
Inferential Comprehension Writing Activity:
Have students respond to the question, “How does Há adapt to each of her different situations?”
Have students respond to the question, “How does Há adapt to each of her different situations?”
Electronic Resources:This is a book trailer with the author reading an excerpt from the book. It will work as a great hook for students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjRxbX4CzM
This is a site from Scholastic that has a variety of activities to use for this book.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/guides/inside_out_guide.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjRxbX4CzM
This is a site from Scholastic that has a variety of activities to use for this book.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/guides/inside_out_guide.pdf
Resources:
Inside Out and Back Again - Book trailer. (2011, August 9). YouTube. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjRxbX4CzM.
Reading group guide: Inside out and back again. (n.d.). Reading group guide: Inside out and back again. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/guides/inside_out_guide .pdf.
Inside Out and Back Again - Book trailer. (2011, August 9). YouTube. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjRxbX4CzM.
Reading group guide: Inside out and back again. (n.d.). Reading group guide: Inside out and back again. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/guides/inside_out_guide .pdf.