Activity Overview
All American Boys is filled with symbolism. It's helpful for students to analyze it in order to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their journey. The symbols in this book will come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify and illustrate symbols from the novel, supporting their choices with details from the text.
Examples of Symbols in All American Boys
- Basketball
- Graffiti / Tagging
- Uniforms
- Family Circus Cartoons
- Sports
- Marching
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 storyboard that identifies recurring symbols found in All American Boys. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the symbols from All American Boys you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
- Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
- Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.8.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
- CCSS: RL.5.1 - Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Symbol(s) | All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. | Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. | No symbols are correctly identified. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols. |
Activity Overview
All American Boys is filled with symbolism. It's helpful for students to analyze it in order to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their journey. The symbols in this book will come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify and illustrate symbols from the novel, supporting their choices with details from the text.
Examples of Symbols in All American Boys
- Basketball
- Graffiti / Tagging
- Uniforms
- Family Circus Cartoons
- Sports
- Marching
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 storyboard that identifies recurring symbols found in All American Boys. Illustrate each symbol and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify the symbols from All American Boys you wish to include and type them in the title box at the top.
- Create an image for examples that represent each symbol using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
- Write a description of each of the examples in the black text box.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
- CCSS: RL.8.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text
- CCSS: RL.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
- CCSS: RL.5.1 - Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify Symbol(s) | All symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. | Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or are incorrectly identified as significant symbols. | No symbols are correctly identified. |
| Examples | All examples support the identified symbols. Descriptions clearly say why examples are significant. | Most examples fit the identified symbols. Descriptions say why examples are significant. | Most examples do not fit the identified symbols. Descriptions are unclear. |
| Depiction | Storyboard cells clearly show connection with the symbols and help with understanding. | Most storyboard cells help to show the symbols but some storyboard cells are difficult to understand. | Storyboard cells do not help in understanding the symbols. |
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All American Boys
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