Lesson Plan

Courage “In the Time of the Butterflies”: A Common Core Exemplar

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The courage of Las Mariposas, the Mirabal sisters, is the focus of a series of activities designed to accompany a reading of In the Time of the Butterflies that ask readers to consider what it means to be courageous. Beautifully crafted and richly detailed, the packet also includes links to the text of The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Minou Tavarez Mirabal’s speech.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Share the information about the structure of the novel with readers before they begin the novel
  • Likewise, share information on the location of the Dominican Republic and on Rafael Trujillo before assigning the reading
Pros
  • The packet includes a lengthy background article, worksheets, and answer keys, links to UN declarations on the elimination of violence against women, and film interviews with Julia Alvarez
  • Extension activities include researching other women, like Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala Yousufzai, and Fannie Lou Hamer, who demonstrate great courage in bringing about change
  • Worksheets ask readers to find evidence in the text to support responses
  • The rubric for the final essay can be used by writers as a self-assessment
Cons
  • None