Summer School
June 2013
Credit Retrieval Calendar
Mon
3
Tue
Week 1
Planning
8:30 am – 11:30 am
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wed
4
10
Lesson 3
Objective: Chapter 1 A protagonist is the
main character (the central or main figure)
of a drama or story. Although Antonio is
born from the same ethnic parents, he is
the son of the Marez (sea) and the Luna
(moon) families. This dichotomy
influences Antonio as he passes through
childhood to young adulthood. This
juxtaposition also forms tension for
Antonio. The objective of this lesson is to
introduce the protagonist, Antonio
.
Lesson 2
Lesson 4
11
Lesson 6
Lesson 8
Objective: Chapter 3 Catholicism is the
prominent religion in the novel, but the
characters have contrasting views about
Catholicism. Gabriel and Ultima are the
only two characters who break the fast
before receiving communion. However,
Maria would never consider breaking a
fast before receiving communion since she
is a devout Catholic. The objective of this
lesson is to learn about the role of
Catholicism throughout the novel
Objective: Chapter 4 Folklore is the body
of customs, legends, beliefs, and
superstitions passed on by oral tradition. It
includes folk dances, folk songs, folk
medicine (the use of magical charms and
herbs), and folktales (myths, rhymes, and
proverbs). Folklore are oral traditions
passed down through generations. They
convey human interpretations of life over
the past 1,000 years. The objective of this
lesson is to explore how folklore impacts
the novel
Mini-Test 1
Fri
6
7
Planning
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Lesson 1
Objective: Chapter 1 A dream vision is a
literary device in which the main character
falls asleep and experiences events having
allegorical or moral significance. Antonio
initially tells his mother about his dreams.
She tells him the dreams are from God and
that he would grow up to be a priest. Upon
Ultima's arrival, he remembers her eyes
from his dream and believes she knows his
ultimate destiny. The objective in this
lesson is to identify the role dream visions
play in the novel
Week 2
5
Thu
Objective: Chapter 2 In shamanism,
certain animals guide or give power to a
person. Ultima's owl accompanies her
everywhere and acts as her protectorant.
Its hooting was rhythmic like a soothing
song. Antonio is making the connection
that Ultima and her owl represent
goodness. The objective in this lesson is to
be introduced to shamanism
.
Lesson 5
Objective: Chapter 3 Since Ultima helped
Antonio overcome his fear of the river
'presence', he is free to roam and explore
the river. The river is an intermediary
between the sea and moon. Antonio is the
intermediary between his mother and
father. The river is a metaphor for
Antonio's freedom. A metaphor is a
comparison of one thing to another
without the use of like or as. The objective
of this lesson is to understand the use of
metaphor in the novel
Objective: Chapter 2 Antonio has a fear
of the river, its "presence" that is,
animated by a spirit. When he joins Ultima
on river walks, she teaches him his spirit is
shared in the spirit of all things, lightening
his fear. The objective of this lesson is to
explore the how one can fear the unknown
in the novel.
Lesson 6
12
Mini-Test 2
Week 1
GRADES IN
PROGRESS
DUE
Objective: Chapter 3 Catholicism is the
prominent religion in the novel, but the
characters have contrasting views about
Catholicism. Gabriel and Ultima are the
only two characters who break the fast
before receiving communion. However,
Maria would never consider breaking a
fast before receiving communion since she
is a devout Catholic. The objective of this
lesson is to learn about the role of
Catholicism throughout the novel
14
13
Lesson 10
Lesson 12
Objective: Chapter 5 The ripeness of the
harvest unveils life and color to the
women's songs. Green and red chilies are
tied to colorful ristas. Apples pile high and
the aroma of baking apples fills the Luna
home. The objective of this lesson is to
address the sensory emotions which are
prevalent in this chapter.
Objective: Chapter 6 A symbol is an
object, picture, written word, sound, or
particular mark that represents something
else by association, resemblance, or
convention. The juniper tree may
symbolize the renewal of life, but it can
also be the tree of life. The objective of
this lesson is to understand the many
symbols in the novel: the juniper tree, the
bridge, the river, the sun and moon, the
owl
Planning
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Week 2
GRADES IN
PROGRESS
DUE
Summer School
June 2013
Credit Retrieval Calendar
Lesson 11
Lesson 13
Lesson 7
Lesson 9
Objective: Chapter 4 Antonio learns from
Ultima that certain plants, such as the
yerba del manso, release magic. This
magic may heal burns, cuts or sores; spice
cooking or scare away animals. Magic is
the practice of manipulating and
controlling the course of nature by
extraordinary means. The objective of this
lesson is to explore the variety of magic
demonstrated in the novel.
Objective: Chapter 5 The reader watches
Antonio and his family drive through the
town center toward goat paths and the
meandering river valley. The change in
scenery dramatizes Antonio's maturity
from childhood to young adulthood. The
objective of this lesson is to understand
how the Southwest landscape sets up a
visual image for the novel's location.
Objective: Chapter 6 Antonio's mother is
a devout conscientious woman. Ultima is a
wise healer (la curandera) who
understands the strong hold religion and
natural spirits have on people. Antonio's
father is a wanderer by nature but
formidable by trait. The objective of this
lesson is to understand the principal
characters influential to Antonio
Objective: Chapter 7 World conflict has
made its way into everyday life in the
village of Guadalupe. Antonio's brothers
have been fighting the Japanese and
Germans during World War II. We
witness the horror of war, evident in
Leon's war sickness and murder of veteran
Lupito. The objective of this lesson is to
dramatize how reality has been infused
with fiction.
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19
Mini-Test 3
Week 3
17
Lesson 14
Objective: Chapter 7 They have returned
home from war. Since the Marez brothers
are sons of the sea, they have been soldiers
fighting in remote parts of the world and
are now home restless for more adventure.
The objective in this lesson is to
demonstrate the restlessness of Antonio's
three brothers
Lesson 15
Objective: Chapter 8 The three Marez
brothers have explored the world fighting
in lands far away from Guadalupe. Aside
from the horrors of war, they have grown
up living independently from their family.
Now grown men, difficulties exist as they
attempt to fit back into family and
everyday village life. The objective of this
lesson is to highlight the changes one must
go through as one matures into adulthood.
Lesson 16
Lesson 18
Objective: Chapter 8 Numbers help us see
abstract concepts into defined realistic
tangibles. Within Bless Me Ultima, the
number three is used extensively. Three
represents creative power in numerology.
Within the Bible, the number three
represents divine perfection (i.e. Holy
Trinity). The objective of this lesson is to
identify the role of numbers on the novel.
Objective: Chapter 10 The novel takes
place in the Southwest United States
which was inhabited by Nuevos
Mexicanos. The Luna family descends
from a long line of farmers who plant
crops by the cycles of the moon. The
Marez family were vanqueros, or
cowboys, who roamed the arid landscape.
The objective of this lesson is to discuss
the Native American heritage of New
Mexico.
Lesson 17
Objective: Chapter 9 A fable is a story
which features animals or plants which are
given human qualities to relay a moral
lesson. The ability for a man to be
reincarnated into a fish is simplistic and
naive. However, simplicity is the easiest
way Jason, Samuel and Antonio may
understand more complex moral themes.
The objective in this lesson is to
understand the fable of the Golden Carp.
Lesson 19
21
20
Planning
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
.
Lesson 20
Objective: Chapter 12 Witchcraft is the
use of supernatural powers to influence or
predict events. Tenorio accuses Ultima of
being a witch. In turn, Tenorio's daughters
are accused of being witches by the
villagers. Witchcraft is a form of sorcery
which is depicted in the novel with
malevolence. In contrast, religion is the
epitome of righteousness and goodness.
One of religion's preeminent denotations is
the cross. In this chapter, Ultima must
prove herself a non-witch by walking
underneath the cross error-free. The
objective of this lesson is to understand
the role of witchcraft in the novel.
Objective: Chapter 11 Cico dares Tony to
enter Narcisco's garden. Cico also tests
Antonio whether he can keep the secret of
the Golden Carp. Tony is learning life is
full of tests to determine the strength of
your character. The objective of this lesson
is to understand the tests Tony is put
Objective: Chapter 13 Antonio teaches
through by his friends.
his uncle a valuable lesson about passing
judgment on others. Although Tenorio is
the novel's antagonist, or adversary, one
wonders whether villagers are quick to
pass judgment on Tenorio when they do
not understand all that he has been through
in his life. The objective of this lesson is to
discuss misunderstanding and passing
judgment.
Lesson 21
Week 3
GRADES IN
PROGRESS
DUE
Summer School
June 2013
Credit Retrieval Calendar
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
25
26
FINAL EXAM
Lesson 22
Lesson 24
.
Objective: Chapter 14 Comic relief is the
humorous interlude in a serious literary
work or drama, especially a tragedy,
intended to relieve the dramatic tension or
heighten the emotional impact. The
Christmas play is set between an
unexpected snow blizzard and the murder
of Narcisco. The author may have
deliberately placed this humorous scene to
offset the bleakness of weather and the
brutality of murder. The objective of this
lesson is understanding the use of comic
relief within the novel.
Objective: Chapter 16 Throughout most
of this novel, we see the overarching
tension between good and evil. In this
chapter, Antonio confronts Tenorio who
seeks revenge from Ultima, accusing her
of casting a spell on his terminally ill
daughter. The objective of this lesson is
understand the role of good and evil in the
novel.
Objective: Chapter 18 Prior to his First
Confession, Antonio questions how a
priest can bear the weight of all the sins he
hears. In his mind, Antonio likens the
priest experience of sin to that of the
Golden Carp in which too much sinning
will sink the town into the lake. The
objective of this lesson is to understand sin
from a child's perspective.
Lesson 25
Lesson 27
Objective: Chapter 17 Antonio and his
classmates begin their catechism class in
anticipation for their First Communion
discovering there are different levels of sin
in Catholicism. Not everything in life is
fair and this inequity is often the source of
sin (i.e. war, murder, etc.) It is difficult to
differentiate whether certain actions, such
as dropping the atomic bomb, qualify as a
sin or action toward peace. The objective
of this lesson is to understand the
differentiation of sin within the novel.
Objective: Chapter 19 Catholics believe
this event to be very important, as the
Eucharist is one of the central tenets of the
Roman Catholicism. Antonio anxiously
awaits the communion wafer which he
believes will answer all his questions to
God. The objective of this lesson is to
understand the importance of Antonio
finally making his First Communion
Week 4
24
Lesson 23
Objective: Chapter 15 Tony's family and
friends believe he will grow up to be a
priest. Readers find situations which Tony
carries out duties similar to a priest:
confession and blessing of the sick and
dying. Tony is the only one present when
Narcisco and Lupito seek absolution of
sins before their deaths. The objective of
this lesson is to witness the priestly
responsibilities of our novel's protagonist
Tony.
Lesson 26
Fri
27
Lesson 28
Objective: Chapter 20 A dramatic climax
is the turning point in a story or plot.
Ultima's owl cries a warning, not the soft
rhythmic song it used to. The joyfulness of
First Communion is offset by the exorcist
occurrences at Tellez's home. Tenorio
continues to seek revenge on Ultima now
that his first daughter is dead and his
second daughter is terminally ill. The
objective of this lesson is to understand
the role of the climax or rising action in
the story
Lesson 29
Objective: Chapter 21 Cico and Tony are
anxious to tell others about the Golden
Carp. Their enthusiasm is cut short by the
drowning of Florence. They had hoped to
tell the redemption story of the Golden
Carp to the most ardent of non-believers,
Florence. The objective of this lesson is to
demonstrate the redemption message of
the Golden Carp.
Lesson 30
Objective: Chapter 22 Antonio's
understanding of life reaches culmination
in this last chapter. Through his parents,
family, friends, teachers and Ultima he has
learned life is a growth cycle fulfilled
through human relationships. The
objective of this lesson is to understand
how growth means change.
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Planning
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
FINAL GRADES DUE