Activity Overview
Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary found in the book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Students will create a Spider map of 3-5 terms at the teachers discretion. Each cell will contain a term or allusion, its definition or description, and an appropriate illustration.
Examples of Vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again
áo dài: Vietnamese national garment of a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over trousers; meaning literally "long shirt".
Bruce Lee: U.S. actor and kung fu expert, Bruce Lee starred in a number of martial arts movies.
Communism: a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
cyclo: three-wheel bicycle taxi that appeared in Vietnam during the French colonial period.
dông: coin, the basic monetary unit of Vietnam.
durian: an oval spiny tropical fruit containing a creamy pulp and a pungent aroma.
I Ching: Translated as The Book of Changes, the I Ching is an ancient Chinese manual of divination based on eight symbolic trigrams and sixty-four hexagrams, interpreted in terms of the principles of yin and yang. It was included as one of the “five classics” of Confucianism.
Glutinous: like glue in texture; sticky.
Gong: metal disk with a turned rim, giving a resonant note when struck.
immigration: the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.
loyalty: a strong feeling of support or allegiance.
papaya a tropical fruit shaped like an elongated melon, with edible orange flesh and small black seeds.
refugee: a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Navy: the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations at sea.
semi-autobiographical: a written work dealing partly with the writer's own life but also containing fictional elements.
tamarind: sticky brown acidic pulp from the pod of a tree of the pea family, widely used as a flavoring in Asian cooking.
Vietcong (also Viet Cong): a member of the communist guerrilla movement in Vietnam that fought the South Vietnamese government forces 1954–75 with the support of the North Vietnamese army and opposed the South Vietnamese and US forces in the Vietnam War; from Vietnamese, meaning literally "Vietnamese Communist".
Vietnam (Viet Nam): a southeast Asian country on the South China Sea. Vietnam is the country east of Laos and Cambodia and it is south of China.
The Vietnam War: Also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War. It was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and noncommunist South Vietnam. The war was fought in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that defines and illustrates key vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the vocabulary terms you have chosen.
- In the description boxes, write the definition or description of the term.
- Create an illustration for each term using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Must have 3 vocabulary terms, correct definitions or descriptions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | The definition is correct. | The definition is partially correct. | The definition is incorrect. |
| Visualizations | The storyboard cells clearly illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The storyboard cells relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words, but are difficult to understand. | The storyboard cells do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
Activity Overview
Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary found in the book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Students will create a Spider map of 3-5 terms at the teachers discretion. Each cell will contain a term or allusion, its definition or description, and an appropriate illustration.
Examples of Vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again
áo dài: Vietnamese national garment of a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over trousers; meaning literally "long shirt".
Bruce Lee: U.S. actor and kung fu expert, Bruce Lee starred in a number of martial arts movies.
Communism: a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.
cyclo: three-wheel bicycle taxi that appeared in Vietnam during the French colonial period.
dông: coin, the basic monetary unit of Vietnam.
durian: an oval spiny tropical fruit containing a creamy pulp and a pungent aroma.
I Ching: Translated as The Book of Changes, the I Ching is an ancient Chinese manual of divination based on eight symbolic trigrams and sixty-four hexagrams, interpreted in terms of the principles of yin and yang. It was included as one of the “five classics” of Confucianism.
Glutinous: like glue in texture; sticky.
Gong: metal disk with a turned rim, giving a resonant note when struck.
immigration: the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.
loyalty: a strong feeling of support or allegiance.
papaya a tropical fruit shaped like an elongated melon, with edible orange flesh and small black seeds.
refugee: a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
Navy: the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations at sea.
semi-autobiographical: a written work dealing partly with the writer's own life but also containing fictional elements.
tamarind: sticky brown acidic pulp from the pod of a tree of the pea family, widely used as a flavoring in Asian cooking.
Vietcong (also Viet Cong): a member of the communist guerrilla movement in Vietnam that fought the South Vietnamese government forces 1954–75 with the support of the North Vietnamese army and opposed the South Vietnamese and US forces in the Vietnam War; from Vietnamese, meaning literally "Vietnamese Communist".
Vietnam (Viet Nam): a southeast Asian country on the South China Sea. Vietnam is the country east of Laos and Cambodia and it is south of China.
The Vietnam War: Also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War. It was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and noncommunist South Vietnam. The war was fought in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from November 1, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that defines and illustrates key vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the title boxes, identify the vocabulary terms you have chosen.
- In the description boxes, write the definition or description of the term.
- Create an illustration for each term using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Must have 3 vocabulary terms, correct definitions or descriptions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | The definition is correct. | The definition is partially correct. | The definition is incorrect. |
| Visualizations | The storyboard cells clearly illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The storyboard cells relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words, but are difficult to understand. | The storyboard cells do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
How Tos about Allusions and Key Terms in Inside Out and Back Again
Introduce key vocabulary with a context-rich story
Engage students by sharing a short story or scenario from Inside Out and Back Again that naturally uses several vocabulary words. This helps students connect new terms to real situations, making learning more meaningful from the start.
Display and discuss each term visually
Show each vocabulary word with a picture or illustration. Talk through the term’s meaning and ask students to share what they notice or imagine. This supports visual learners and builds understanding before students create their own visuals.
Encourage students to use vocabulary in sentences
Have students write or say original sentences using each term. Model a few examples first, then let students practice. This reinforces practical word use and checks understanding.
Guide students to create personal connections
Ask students if any vocabulary words remind them of their own lives or experiences. Discuss these connections as a class to foster deeper meaning and boost retention.
Review and reinforce vocabulary through quick games
Play brief review games like charades, matching, or Pictionary using the vocabulary. This makes review fun and memorable, helping students recall terms during reading and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Allusions and Key Terms in Inside Out and Back Again
What are some key vocabulary terms in Inside Out and Back Again?
Key vocabulary terms in Inside Out and Back Again include refugee, áo dài, communism, cyclo, durian, I Ching, loyalty, semi-autobiographical, Vietcong, and Vietnam War. Understanding these terms helps students better comprehend the novel's context and themes.
How can I teach vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again effectively?
Use a spider map activity where students define and illustrate each term. This visual approach promotes engagement and helps students retain new vocabulary from Inside Out and Back Again.
What is a storyboard vocabulary activity for Inside Out and Back Again?
A storyboard vocabulary activity involves students selecting key terms, writing definitions, and creating illustrations. This helps students connect word meanings to the novel’s events and characters.
Why is it important to introduce key vocabulary before reading Inside Out and Back Again?
Introducing key vocabulary before reading builds background knowledge, aids comprehension, and supports students in understanding complex themes and cultural references in the novel.
What is an allusion in Inside Out and Back Again, and how should students identify them?
An allusion is a reference to a person, place, event, or work outside the story. In Inside Out and Back Again, students should look for mentions like Bruce Lee or historical terms, then research and explain their significance in the story’s context.
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