Finding the Music / En pos de la música
Apply in the Classroom
Reyna accidentally damaging the vihuela leads her to learn more about her grandfather and her community. Inspire students to explore and appreciate how their own families are connected to their neighborhoods. Ask students to brainstorm what makes a community and think about what sights, sounds, and smells make their community special. How do their families contribute to the essence of their neighborhood?
Have students interview a family member about what makes the community special and share their findings with the class to compile a chart or illustrated poster about the great things in your community.
Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing
What does it mean to be a neighbor?
What communities do you belong to?
What sounds, tastes, and smells can you find in your community?
What does your community look like?
What do neighbors have in common?
Why is diversity (of appearance, values, interests, jobs, etc.) important in a community?
Related Teaching Resources
Mariachi Youth Program: Music from PBS LearningMedia
Lee & Low’s Teacher’s Guide
Unity in the Community lessons from Learning to Give
Community lesson plan from the Peace Corps
This Is My Neighborhood lesson plan from Scholastic
Reading Is Fundamental support materials
More Titles to Try
Quinito’s Neighborhood/El Vecindario de Quinito by Ina Cumpiano
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell
Crouching Tiger by Ying Chang Compestine
Sweet Music in Harlem by Debbie Taylor
City Green by Diane DiSalvo-Ryan
Music, Music for Everyone by Vera B. Williams
Rum-a-Tum-Tum by Angela Shelf Medearis
In My Family/En mi familia by Carmen Lomas Garza
Can We Help? Kids Volunteering to Help Their Communities by George Ancona
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