Armando and the Blue Tarp School
 
LISTEN
As you hear the story of Armando, put yourself in his place.
Picture his home. Think about what he longs for.


PRE-WRITE
cluster.jpg

Do a two-minute cluster on Armando's neighborhood. Think of the five senses.

Make a cluster about your neighborhood.


CREATE ART
  • Make an illustrated Word Book like Armando's with words in two languages.
    (See the Glossary.)
  • Create a collage of recycled scraps.

  • Name your art piece and sign it. Artists do.
    art.jpg

  • Build "recycled" sculptures, like this one, using cardboard tubes, cans, paper scraps, old yarn, and other found materials.
  • Study Hernán Sosa's artwork. Draw a picture using his method of outlining shapes in white.



  • ACT
    Like David, you can make a difference in the world.
    That's the Power of One.

    Be a roving recycler
  • At home
  • At school
  • In your neighborhood


  • Learn about what other kids in your community are doing to make a difference through volunteering and helping others.


    COOK
    Make and taste typical Mexican dishes-yum! Search a kids' cookbook or the Internet for recipes for the dishes below.
  • homemade salsa
  • guacamole
  • tortilla soup
  • quesadillas
  • sweets-flan, banuelos



  • THINK and DISCUSS
    Empathy is understanding what other people are thinking or feeling.
  • What did Armando want more than anything?
  • At first, how did Papa feel about Señor David's school?
  • What changed Papa's mind?
  • What did Papa do that made Armando happy?
  • How did Isabella help Armando?
  • How did Señor David show he cared about Armando and the other children?
  • What do you and Armando have in common?
  • What is the same and different about your home, your school, your life?
  • How did Armando learn and grow in this book?
  • What do you think made Señor David decide to stay for so many years?
  • A theme is the unspoken "glue" of the story, the message that the story gives. What could the Armando theme be?



  • EXPLORE MUSIC
    Sing and dance to Mexican music.
  • Make maracas with dry beans in a cardboard tube.
  • Learn about the instruments in mariachi bands
  • Find some typical Mexican songs
  • Make up a song using the Spanish numbers one to ten or other Spanish words.



  • PLAY WITH WORDS
    You won't find BUH-BEEP! OR EEP-EEP-EEP! in a dictionary.
  • Have fun making up spellings for sounds you hear every day.
    -A SHOOOSH of dry leaves
    -The VROOM of a jet
    -A CRAAACK of thunder
    -The SKREEEK of a rusty gate hinge
    -The SKRAAWWK of a crow

  • Learn hello, good-bye, please, and thank you in ten other languages.

  • Make flashcards like the ones in the book using the Glossary at the back of the book.
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