RESOURCE GUIDE - Reading Is Fundamental

Grades 5-6
SUGGESTED ACTIVITY
Materials
■ Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan
■ Soap
■ Plastic knife
■ Newspapers
■ Writing utensils
■ Paper towels for cleanup
Set the Stage
■ Show the children Becoming Naomi León.
■ Ask children to discuss what they think the book
will be about.
■ Explain how we all like to have friends and family
around us.
■ Invite children to talk about how they feel about
family members living far away.
Introduce the Story
■ Explain that this story is about a girl who feels her
mother doesn’t understand her, and that the father
she has never known helps her understand who she
is and who she will become.
■ Ask: Why do you think Naomi wants to meet her
father? What things do you think Naomi could do to
meet him?
■ Tell the children this book is available in both English
and Spanish.
Read the Story
■ Read aloud Becoming Naomi León. As you read, pause
to discuss what is happening in the story.
■ If possible, read the story in English and Spanish.
Classroom Activity: Soap Carvings
■ Lay newspaper out on the desk to catch soap
shavings.
■ Have the children draw a simple shape they would
like to carve out of soap.
■ Let them trace their drawing on to the soap bar
using a sharp pen or pencil.
■ Show them how to slowly cut away the soap using
the plastic knife until they have created their shape.
Additional Discussion Questions
■ Do you agree with the way the story ended? Why do
you think that?
■ Why do you think the author wrote this story?
■ Did you notice any interesting words or sentences in
the story?
■ What advice would you give the main character?
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