How
are you a child still?
How are you an adult?
Explain your answers for at
least 12 lines.
 In



groups of 3, choose who will be:
DISCUSSION LEADER
RECORDER
REPORTER
 Brainstorm
15 ways we mature by finishing
the phrase “I will know I’ve grown up
when…”


Ms. Strong’s Example: I knew I was grown up
when I didn’t get an Easter basket from the
Easter bunny anymore.
I knew I was grown up when my parents talked to
me about their problems.
 Copy
all of these down on a sheet of paper.
 Are
any of the items on the list similar?
 Are there any items that can be grouped
together?
 What category titles can you give to the
groups?
 Determine
the most important or most
reliable indications of maturity, and the least
reliable indications. Be prepared to explain
your conclusions.

Many stories depict their protagonist
growing up or coming of age. The
coming‐of‐age stories typically trace the
protagonist's growth from a self‐absorbed,
immature individual into an expansive,
mature human being concerned with the
welfare of others and his/her place in the
world scheme.
 Why
read a book about the coming-of-age
experience of a Mexican-American boy in
New Mexico during and right after WWII?
 This doesn’t connect to me!
 C.S.
Lewis says “We read to know we are not
alone.”
 You
live this theme everyday!
 During adolescence, teens are constantly
engaging in the battle between childhood and
adulthood. By studying a variety of literature in
which the main characters are undergoing coming
of age experiences, you will be able to relate the
material to your own journeys.
 Discerning differences between characters in
"Coming of Age" literature can help you make
decisions about your own coming-of-age
experiences.
 The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
 To Kill a Mockingbird
 Jane Eyre
 Anne of Green Gables
 The Secret Life of Bees
 The Kite Runner
 The House on Mango Street
 A Separate Peace (In what ways is it? Is it
not?)
3
Key Characteristics
 1. Loss of Innocence
 2. Clash between personal desires and societal
expectations
 3. Predictions about how the character will fit
into adult society

Character’s growth process begins when he
or she is faced with loss or discovery.
Character loses innocence and struggles with
the knowledge that the (adult) world is a
complex place. The “absolutes” of childhood
no longer exist; the world is more grey than
it is black and white.
-fruit (Especially apples! Ignorance is bliss— knowledge
ends ignorance, knowledge ends bliss.)
 -gardens/forest
 -falling
 -flowers
 -circuses/carnivals/fairs
 -birth/tunnel imagery- birth is the first separation,
traumatic entrance into a new world.
 -purity that has spoiled or gone rotten
 -OR character desperately tries to hold onto innocence,
goes on a quest for purity with an intense desire to
“keep it real,” by avoiding hypocrisy, “phonies” or
those who “act” or “seem” one way


Character’s growth is characterized by
clashes between personal desires and the
“rules” or “social order” of adult society.
Character tries to establish his or her own
“rules” as he or she attempts to become an
active participant in the world.
-Internal conflict- confused emotions, feels
misunderstood
 -Desire for the simplicity of childhood and
excitement of adulthood
 -Desire for the perks of adulthood without the
responsibility


Testing boundaries and limits





-legal/illegal
-right/wrong
-known/unknown
-familiar/strange
-parent/child

Character finds his or her place in adult
society. Is it a good fit? (It’s not always a
comfortable or successful fit.)
 As
we watch this short TV show, in a 3column chart, note examples of:
 1. Loss of Innocence
 2. Clash between personal desires and
societal expectations

Afterward, you will make predictions about
how the protagonist (main character),
Kevin, will fit into adult society
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG2rePtB
gXw&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mod
e=1&safe=active
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gIGT3i_kY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjuNiEgM
yHs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode
=1&safe=active
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUXnj8C
svuU&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mod
e=1&safe=active
 With
your partner, choose 3-4 of the
items/concepts brainstormed in your group
discussion that are most significant in
Antonio’s journey.
 Illustrate them.
 Label or briefly describe
 When
you finish, individually write a
paragraph explaining where you
think Antonio is right now in this
journey.
 Draw
this chart
Loss of Innocence
Clash
Predictions of Fitting In
w/ Society






You must comment 4 times.
The comment should be substantial: share an opinion
and use text to support your opinion.
Choose 1 person to be the bank teller. Each time
someone comments and the bank teller evaluates that it
is a substantial comment, the speaker gives the bank
teller 1 “coin.”
You need to wait for someone else to comment before
you make another comment.
At the end, each person should have commented 4 times
& have put at least 4 coins into the bank.
Write down notes on the chart.
 5-6
events that represent your journey
towards maturity.
 Events should be arranged in chronological
order, with arrows drawn between each item
to designate the correct order of events.
 You may use any materials to create this.
 You will write a one-page paper explaining
your map and present a portion of it to class.

GRADING RUBRIC FOR IDENTITY MAP

Identity Map Total Points = ______ / 60



Construction of Map (25 total points) 5-6 events in your life
that have been coming-of-age experiences.

Illustrations (15 points)
1pt each for each of 5 illustrations:
-detail
-neatness
One-page explanation of coming of age
experience depicted in map (20 total points)
Usage (5 points)
1pt each
-vocabulary; spelling
-punctuation
-sentence completion
-agreement
-other grammatical errors
-labeling or brief description under each event

Method (5 points)
-chronologically ordered
-sufficiently displays events
-good use of space

Creativity and clarity (5 points)

Presentation of Identity Map (20 total points)
-presentation displays understanding of topic (5)
-student explains 2-3 events in detail (5)
-student tells how he/she has changed because of events (5)

- Professionalism (5)

Content (15 points)
5pts each
-displays significance of chosen topic
-extensive use of thoughts, feelings,
and details in description
-complete development of topic
ILLUSTRATIONS (15 total points)
 3pts each:
 -detail,
 -neatness,
 -labeling or brief description under each event
METHOD (5 points)
 -chronologically ordered
 -sufficiently displays events
 -good use of space

3. Creativity and clarity (5 points)
 (15
total points)
 -presentation displays understanding of topic
(5)
 -student explains 2-3 events in detail (5)
 -student tells how he/she has changed
because of events (5)
Usage (5 points)
 1pt each
 -vocabulary; spelling
 -punctuation
 -sentence completion
 -agreement
 -other grammatical errors
Content (15 points)
 5pts each
 -displays significance of chosen topic
 -extensive use of thoughts, feelings, and details in description
 -complete development of topic