Callie and her family came across many challenges in the novel Calico Girl. Joseph is sold, they must escape enslavement, Little Charlie dies, and they must adapt to a new way of living. For this activity, students will create a 3 cell spider map illustrating and describing three challenges that Callie and her family came across. Teachers can provide students with a list of challenges or see what they choose for themselves! Students can also choose to focus on a singular character, or the family as a whole.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that identifies challenges that Callie and her family face in Calico Girl. Illustrate instances of each challenge and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Engage students by asking open-ended questions about the challenges faced by Callie and her family. Encourage multiple perspectives and invite students to support their ideas with examples from the text. This deepens understanding and builds empathy.
Explain that respectful listening and thoughtful responses are essential. Model how to build on classmates’ ideas and encourage every student to contribute in their own way.
Craft questions that require students to reference specific events or dialogue in Calico Girl. Use prompts like “What choice would you have made?” to spark meaningful conversation.
Designate student roles such as “summarizer,” “question asker,” or “connector” to keep discussion focused and inclusive. Switch roles regularly to build confidence and skills.
Invite students to share something new they learned or how their perspective changed. Use a quick-write or turn-and-talk for all voices to be heard before closing.
Callie and her family face several major challenges in Calico Girl, including Joseph being sold away, escaping enslavement, coping with the death of Little Charlie, and adapting to a new life after gaining freedom. These obstacles shape their journey and personal growth throughout the story.
To create a spider map, start by identifying three main challenges from the book. Write each challenge as a heading, add an illustration for each, and provide a short description below each image. This helps visualize and summarize the struggles faced by Callie and her family.
The spider map activity helps students analyze and organize the challenges characters face in Calico Girl. It encourages critical thinking, comprehension, and creative illustration, making the lesson more engaging and meaningful for grades 4–6.
Yes, students can choose to focus on a single character like Callie or look at the challenges faced by the entire family. This flexibility allows for personalized analysis and deeper understanding of the characters' experiences.
Teachers can support students by providing a list of possible challenges, encouraging creative illustrations, and allowing choice between focusing on a character or the family. Clear instructions and examples will help guide students through the spider map assignment effectively.