Verde Group- Bread and Roses, Too- Sara Swanson, Jennifer Naseef, Brenna Hinman
Posted by Unknown at 5:56 PM
Author: Katherine Paterson
Year: 2006
Recommended for: Ages 10+
Buy it here!
Social Studies Resource 1:
This website is an actual lesson plan that allows
children to split up into groups, read different portions of their text, and
from that text re-enact the strike they have learned about. Not only does this
give students the opportunity to experience what a strike is hands on, it
allows students to learn about some of the child labor strikes in the world. It
also allows students to teach each other what knowledge they have obtained
about strikes.
Social Studies Resource 2:
This article is about the teachers’ strike that is
currently happening in Chicago, Illinois. This resource is a good resource for
teachers so they can see the positives and negatives the strike has on children
in the schools. From this article, teachers can show children that strikes are
used to change unfair treatment and that people have the right to strike. They
can also use it to show how strikes can affect different groups of people.
Art Resource 1:
This lesson plan gives students the opportunity to
create a self-portrait of their emotions. Throughout Bread and Roses, Too,
numerous characters have felt different types of emotions at different times of
the story and were not afraid to show them to each other. This lesson allows
students to reflect their emotions and feelings in a simple drawing of
themselves. It also allows students to reflect how they are feeling in another
form of expression other than speaking.
Art Resource 2:
This is a lesson plan that allows students to
express their dreams for their own life. Throughout the text, both the children
and adults had a dream of having a better life, which is why the strike
occurred in the first place. This lesson gives students the opportunity to
understand that their dreams and aspirations can come true if they work hard.
Important characters:
Rosa – Rosa is one of the main characters of the book. She is an Italian immigrant and is well-educated, generous, and very smart. This is a character that always puts others before herself and cares for others genuinely. She opposes of the strike throughout the story because she feels as if it will hurt her family and only make matters worse. Rosa believes that strikes are not the way to fix problems; cooperation and trying to come together makes change. Still, however Rosa helped her mother and sister create a sign, which winds up being the sign that names the strike “The Bread and Roses Strike” to stand out and to help win the strike for the workers. In the end, what matters most to Rosa is her family. When she was safe in Vermont and her family was in danger, she didn’t care that she had food in her stomach or a warm bed; she just wanted to be home with her family, which shows a lot about her character.
Jake
– Jake is the other main character in the story and is the complete opposite of
Rosa. He is a few years older than Rosa and doesn’t attend school, so he does
not know how to read or write. From the beginning, Jake is always out for
himself; he sneaks into churches, trash piles, and even homes so he could have
some food and a place to sleep. Jake does not have a mother and his father is
very abusive towards him, which is why he is always looking for food and a
place to sleep. He is somewhat greedy because he lets his needs overpower him.
Jake desperately needed to get out of his house and into New York City so he
could work and make money to support himself, but his father would never give
him permission. He buys him a bottle of whiskey as a present in hopes he will
sign a permission slip, but the alcohol winds up killing him that night. He
sneaks on the train with Rosa in hopes that the train is going to New York, but
it winds up going to Vermont. Jakes biggest fault is that he lies a lot, and
winds up making Rosa lie too. His true greed comes out when he goes to steal
money from Mr. Gerbati, his and Rosa’s guardian while in Vermont, after he has
done so much for Jake, but to him it was going to be used to help him get to
New York City. In the end, fate works in his favor and the Gerbati’s adopt him
and give him a life he never would have dreamt of having and in return, Jake is
asked to stop lying and be upfront and honest all of the time.
Mamma
– Mamma is also known as Mrs. Serutti. She is a widow and has three children;
Rosa, Anna, and Ricci. Mamma is one of the most influential characters in the
strike. She knows it’s dangerous, but she does not care; her family matters the
most. Whatever could help her family, she was going to do. She wants her kids
to never have to go to sleep hungry, she wants more than that; she wants roses
too. Not only bread, but roses as well, which is a symbol of respect. Mamma
pours every inch of her soul into this strike and even winds up getting beat by
police officers and imprisoned with Anna, while Rosa is in Vermont and Ricci
was taken by complete strangers. She still, even imprisoned, has nothing but
winning the strike on her mind and made sure Anna contacted Rosa to let her
know she was okay. All of that struggle and all of that time and energy pays
off when police officials and business owners get overturned and the workers
finally win the strike. Mamma did not give up; she strove for what was best
for her family and in the end, succeeded.
Summary of Historical Content:
Bread and Roses, Too gives readers a glimpse into the life of Rosa Seruitti, a young Italian immigrant living in Lawrence, Massachusetts during the workers’ strike in 1912. Early in the story she stumbles upon a boy her age, Jake Beale, while he is trying to find warmth in a pile of trash against the harsh winter conditions and takes pity on him, helping him throughout the novel. The risk of strike begins to escalate with poor conditions and the owners cutting the workers’ pay in order to maximize profits. The workers vow to leave the mills if their pay is cut again, and come pay day they do exactly that, taking to the street and striking until all their demands are met. The local leaders of the strike reach out to the Industrial Workers of the World for support and their help organizing the diverse population. The support of the IWW strengthens the strike, which also causes the tension to escalate within the city. Rosa’s anxieties about the safety of her mother and her sister plague her throughout the novel.
When
the strike becomes violent and the police begin to harm the strikers, the
families of Lawrence, Massachusetts decide to send the children out of harm’s
way. Rosa’s mother decides to send Rosa
to Barre, Vermont; a small town with a large population of Italians. Once Jake hears about the opportunity to
leave Lawrence he sneaks onto Rosa’s train.
Rosa reluctantly agrees to help Jake, allowing him to pose as her older
brother that had been sent at the last minute to keep her safe. Once in Barre Rosa and Jake are fostered by
the Gerbatis. The older couple spoils
the children, making sure that they eat three large meals each day and that
they have new warm clothes until they are able to return home after the strike
is won.
Element of Social Justice:
Throughout the story, Bread and Roses, Too, shows readers a group of unhappy people and how their current living situation is the cause of their unhappiness. These people want a change; they want food, respect, more money and they feel as if they deserve it, just like everyone else. Most of all, these people want to feel equal and eliminate the social injustice they feel every day. They take a stand and go on strike, knowing they could lose, knowing they could get hurt, and knowing it could make the situation worse. But to them, what do they have to lose? They would rather go down with a fight, then to sit there and not try. The whole plot of this book tells a story of how coming together and standing up for what is right can work and create a change; a change for the better.
NJ Core Curriculum Standards:
Social
Studies:
6.3.4.D.1
Identify actions that are unfair or discriminatory, such as bullying, and
propose solutions to address such actions.
6.3.4.A.1
Evaluate what makes a good rule or law.
The
Arts:
1.3.5.D.5
Collaborate in the creation of works of art using multiple art media and art mediums,
and present the completed works in exhibition areas inside and outside the
classroom.
Activity:
Students
will be asked to identify a social justice issue that affects their daily
lives. The issue can be one that they
are confronted with at school or within their community. Once the students identify an issue they will
be asked to create a plan of action. This
plan of action will detail how they intend to address the chosen issue and what
their role will be in making a change. The
students will then create an artistic representation of the issue that will be
displayed at the school if it is an issue within the school or at a community
center if it is an issue within their community. The artistic representation should express
what the issue is, and if possible, their method of change.
Letter to Rosa
Critique:
Bread and Roses, Too is a spectacular novel that demonstrates the power of people regardless of their social or economic class. The novel lends the reader a sense of hope, that when a group of people band together for a common cause that change can occur. Katherine Paterson does a brilliant job of showing the tense alliance between the different cultures within the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts while also bringing the similarities of the cultures to the attention of the reader. Although the novel is long, Paterson keeps the reader engaged and fully invested in the turmoil of Rosa’s thoughts and emotions. The reader quickly becomes invested in the strike, wishing for the well-being of the characters and an expedient, favorable outcome to the strike.
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Letter to:
Dear Rosa,
We have been through a lot since I first met you. You have always been a great friend to me. I wish I could say the same, however I know that my actions toward the beginning of our friendship do not permit me the title of a great friend. I asked you to lie on my behalf more than one occasion. First with the fact I was your brother and again to the Gerbati's. In fact, I have lied myself way to many times to count.
I just wanted to let you know that I am thankful that I met you. I now see that it was wrong of me to put you in the situations I did. If it was not for meeting you I would of never been where I am today. I am now adopted by the Gerbati's and life is better than I could of ever imagined. I was chasing the dream of New York City and had not realized there were better dreams out there. You were the one that got me to where I am today. You will always be my dearest friend and from here on out I will never lie to you or ask you to lie for me. You have guided me to a better life. I hope to hear back from you soon so I will be able to read your response. The Gerbati's are helping me with learning to read and write and I can not stop reading news, stories and now letters. I can not wait to hear from you.
Your friend,
Jake
P.s. The Gerbati's want to know how you are as well and say hello.
Standards:
6.1.4.d.15. Describe how stereotyping and prejudice can lead to conflict using examples from the past and present.
6.1.4.c.2. Distinguish between needs and wants and explain how scarcity and choice influence decisions made by individuals, communities and nations.
6.1.p.d.1 Describe characteristics of oneself, one's family and others.
Author: Katherine Paterson
Year: 2006
Recommended for :Age 10 and up suggested
Unknown said...
November 12, 2012 at 8:03 PM