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LESSON PLAN
The Changing Face of America
Skill
Close Reading
Read the Article
The U.S. is becoming much more racially and ethnically diverse. How will that alter the nation’s identity?
Before Reading
1. Set FocusPose this essential question to guide discussion: What defines a nation’s identity?
2. List VocabularyShare with students some of the challenging vocabulary words in this article. Encourage them to use context to infer meanings as they read.
3. EngageHave students examine “The Big Shift” graphs on page 11. Ask: Does anything surprise you about the graphs? If so, what? If not, why not?
Analyze the Article
4. Read Have students read the article, marking the text to note key ideas or questions.
5. DiscussDistribute or project Up Close: The Changing Face of America, a close-reading activity for students to work on in small groups. (Note: The questions on the PDF also appear on the facing page of this lesson, with possible responses.) Follow up with a class discussion. If you’re short on time, have each group tackle one or two of the questions. Collect students’ work or have each group report its findings to the class.
Extend & Assess
6. Writing PromptResearch the ethnic and racial demographics of your town or state from when it was founded to today. Then summarize how the demographics have changed—or not changed—in one page.
7. VideoWatch the video about mixed-race marriages. What does it add to your understanding?
8. Classroom DebateWill the next majority population worry about changing demographics?
9. Quiz & SkillsUse the quiz to assess students’ comprehension and Be the Editor to review grammar skills.
Download a PDF of this Lesson Plan