The setting of a story doesn't just serve as a backdrop, it can also impact the characters who live there. Jacqueline moved many times throughout her childhood, shaping who she became as an adult. She has lived in Ohio, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York. These three locations are all very different, yet she has felt that each is home to her. For this activity, students will describe and illustrate each location and what Jackie’s life was like when she lived there. They should use evidence from the text to support their answers.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that describes and illustrates the three specific settings of Brown Girl Dreaming.
Student Instructions:
Requirements:
Lead a focused discussion on how each setting influences Jacqueline's experiences and growth. Encourage students to share how moving between Ohio, South Carolina, and Brooklyn shaped Jackie’s identity and feelings of home. Use open-ended questions to spark thoughtful responses and personal connections.
Create 2–3 open-ended questions for each location (Ohio, South Carolina, Brooklyn). Examples: "How does Jackie feel in Ohio compared to Brooklyn?" or "What challenges does she face in each place?" Well-crafted prompts guide students to use text evidence and think deeply.
Group students so each includes a mix of perspectives and strengths. This encourages quieter students to participate and lets everyone learn from each other’s interpretations.
Demonstrate citing specific examples from 'Brown Girl Dreaming' during the discussion. Show how to reference passages or describe scenes that reveal the mood, challenges, or growth Jackie experiences in each setting.
Invite groups to share their insights and discuss common themes or surprising differences. Wrap up by reflecting on how setting shapes not just characters in stories, but also ourselves.
Brown Girl Dreaming is set in three main locations: Ohio, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York. Each setting plays a unique role in shaping Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood experiences as described in the memoir.
The different settings in Brown Girl Dreaming—Ohio, South Carolina, and Brooklyn—influence Jacqueline’s identity, culture, and sense of belonging. Each place offers new experiences and challenges that help shape who she becomes.
Students can create a spider map with headings for Ohio, South Carolina, and Brooklyn. Under each, they should include an illustration and a short summary of Jacqueline’s life in that setting, using evidence from the text.
Textual evidence includes descriptions of family, traditions, and community that differ in each location. Students should use quotes or passages that show how each setting influenced Jacqueline’s experiences and feelings of home.
Setting helps students understand how environment impacts characters’ lives. Exploring the three settings in Brown Girl Dreaming encourages empathy, cultural awareness, and deeper text analysis for middle grade readers.