Activity Overview
Throughout the novel, Marlee faces a number of challenges that she must overcome. Some of these challenges include her fear of heights, the racism and injustice all around her, her relationship with her mother, Liz leaving, Judy not wanting to be with her as much, and of course, her fear of talking in front of people she doesn’t know. For this activity, students will create a 3 cell spider map illustrating and describing 3 of Marlee’s challenges.
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 identifies challenges that Marlee faces in The Lions of Little Rock. Illustrate instances of each challenge and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the challenges you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this challenge using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The challenge descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The challenge descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The challenge descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the challenges using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the challenges, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the challenges. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
Throughout the novel, Marlee faces a number of challenges that she must overcome. Some of these challenges include her fear of heights, the racism and injustice all around her, her relationship with her mother, Liz leaving, Judy not wanting to be with her as much, and of course, her fear of talking in front of people she doesn’t know. For this activity, students will create a 3 cell spider map illustrating and describing 3 of Marlee’s challenges.
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 identifies challenges that Marlee faces in The Lions of Little Rock. Illustrate instances of each challenge and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the challenges you wish to include and write them in the headings.
- Create an image for an example that represents this challenge using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each of the examples.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The challenge descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | The challenge descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | The challenge descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the challenges using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the challenges, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the challenges. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about The Lions of Little Rock: Identifying Challenges Activity
How To Lead a Class Discussion on Overcoming Challenges in The Lions of Little Rock
Engage students in a meaningful conversation about how Marlee and her classmates overcome obstacles in the story.
Prepare thought-provoking discussion questions
Write open-ended questions that encourage students to analyze Marlee’s challenges and consider her reactions. For example: “How does Marlee’s fear change throughout the book?”
Set clear norms for respectful conversation
Explain to students how to listen actively and respect each other’s ideas. Remind them to build on classmates’ thoughts and disagree kindly.
Use real examples from the novel
Refer to specific scenes or quotes that show Marlee facing and overcoming a challenge. This helps students connect their ideas to the text.
Encourage students to share personal connections
Invite students to relate Marlee’s experiences to their own lives or to real-world situations. This fosters empathy and deeper understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Lions of Little Rock: Identifying Challenges Activity
What are some challenges Marlee faces in The Lions of Little Rock?
Marlee faces several challenges in The Lions of Little Rock, including her fear of heights, dealing with racism and injustice, struggling with shyness when speaking in public, coping with Liz leaving, and difficulties in her relationships with family and friends.
How can students create a spider map to show Marlee's challenges?
To create a spider map, students should draw three cells branching from the center, each labeled with a challenge Marlee faces. For each cell, illustrate a scene from the book and write a short description explaining the challenge and its impact on Marlee.
What is the objective of the Identifying Challenges Activity for The Lions of Little Rock?
The main objective is for students to identify and visually represent three key challenges Marlee encounters in the novel, demonstrating understanding through both illustrations and short written descriptions in a spider map format.
Why is identifying character challenges important in middle grade novels?
Identifying character challenges helps students build empathy, understand character development, and connect themes from the story to real-life situations, enhancing overall reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
What are some tips for helping students complete the spider map activity successfully?
Encourage students to choose clear examples from the text, use specific scenes or quotes for their illustrations, and write concise descriptions. Reviewing Marlee's key struggles together as a class can also spark ideas and support understanding.
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