Front Desk by Kelly Yang - Novel Study, Reading Activities, and Writing Prompts
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Note to buyer: If you are interested in the version compatible with Google Classroom, please see Front Desk by Kelly Yang - Novel Study & Reading Activities for Google Classroom
But first a word… My first and foremost objective as an educator, when reading a class read aloud, or sharing novels for group study is to encourage a love of reading. I aim to make the pages of the stories come alive, and to provoke thoughtful and meaningful discussion. For this reason, you will not find chapter by chapter questions and answers that can at times make reading seem like a chore. I do however include activities that ask students to make connections, think deeper, compare and contrast, imagine… and start discussions.
This novel is special because it allows for the opportunity for deep discussion and reflection. In order to engage in conversation around difficult themes such as racism and poverty, it is important to spend time creating a safe space in your classroom, where students feel comfortable and can approach these topics in a genuine way. In my classroom I like to do community circles as a way to create a sense of inclusiveness, by giving each student a voice. This might be a great way to tackle some of the questions and conversations your students might be having, and to establish the framework and language that will be used to discuss these topics. Many of the activities included are meant to create a sense of community and discussion amongst students, in addition to a greater understanding of the novel.
The first activities may be used throughout the whole novel, or used where needed:
- Hashtag Chapter Summaries: After reading each chapter, students will use this graphic organizer to write hash tags that summarize what happened in each chapter. Students have a lot of fun with this and enjoy sharing what they have come up with.
- Mia - In and Out Character Sketch: Throughout the novel, students write down characteristics that describe Mia's personality inside the figure, and words that describe her physical appearance on the outside of the figure.
- Word Work Graphic Organizer: I have not included a list of vocabulary for you to use, rather I encourage students to write down words that are interesting and challenging to them. Students might choose to keep a post-it note on their desk to jot down words as they go. This graphic organizer can be used to develop a greater understanding of new words.
- Double-sided Journal Entry Anchor Chart: Throughout this package students will be asked to react to a passage from the novel. The anchor chart will serve as a reference for students and provide them with some sentence starters.
- Double-Sided Journal Entry- Template: A blank template has been included so students or teachers can select their own passages to respond to.
- Find Someone Who…: Students can circulate the classroom looking for different people who can match the descriptions in each square and ask to sign their names.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
Chapter 1: The American Dream - Students are asked to discuss what the "American Dream" is, based on events from the chapter.
Chapter 2 & 3: Meet the Weeklies -Students are given a place to record their findings about some of the characters in the novel. This page can be added to as to as the novel progresses.
Chapter 4: Roll and Answer - Students work with a partner to roll and answer questions based on the chapter.
Chapter 6: Exploitation - Text to World Connections - Students are encouraged to look for examples of immigration and exploitation in real life.
Chapter 8: Bystander & Upstander Skits: Students are given a storyboard to plan out a skit.
Chapter 11: Double-Sided Journal Entry: Students react to a passage in the text
Chapter 12: Design a Brochure: Mia collects brochures of her town to have at the motel. This activity has students creating brochures about where they live.
Chapter 14: Using Your Senses: In this chapter, Mia listens to a piece of music that reminds her of home, Fur Elise. Teachers are encouraged to play this piece of music for their students, and have them describe the music using their senses.
Chapter 14: Friendship - Double-Sided Journal Entry: Students react to a passage in the text.
Chapter 16: Making Mistakes Writing Prompt: Students are given space to write about a mistake that has been an opportunity for personal growth.
Chapter 17: Friendship - Discussion questions based on Mia and Lupe's friendship.
Chapter 18: Double-Sided Journal Entry: Students react to a passage in the text.
Chapter 18: What is Success to You?: Mia and Lupe discuss what success is to them. Students use an acrostic poem to identify what success looks like to them.
Chapter 18: Barriers - Discussion questions about what obstacles people must face to overcome poverty.
Chapter 19: Essay Contest: Mia enters an essay contest where she is asked to describe her dream motel. Students are now asked to describe their dream motel and what they would do with it.
Chapter 24: Show Not Tell: In Mia's class they are asked to write about a small moment in detail. A graphic organizer is provided for students to brainstorm about their own special moment. This could be used as a springboard for a larger piece of writing.
Chapter 26: No Tree is Perfect - In this chapter, Lupe teaches Mia to draw trees. Using the provided tree template, students can fill in the leaves with adjectives to describe themselves; things that make them unique.
Chapter 27: Guest Cards - Just as Lupa writes an encouraging note to Mia, students are to write their own positive message to share with someone in the class. You might consider having blank cards available in the class for students to fill out whenever they want. You might also consider posting them in a classroom.
Chapter 31: Letter to “Mean Girls” - Discussion questions based on Mia's letter to the mean girls.
Chapter 32: Math Challenge - Students are asked a math question related to the motel rate. A discussion question is also included.
Chapter 32: Celebrate Your Differences - Students are to discuss a quote from the book, and subsequently draw a self portrait to celebrate their uniqueness.
Chapter 34: Broken Heart Activity - Cut out a large pink heart out of construction paper. Have students sit in a circle. Pass the heart around the circle to each of the students. Each student is asked to share an example of a time when they have felt like they didn’t belong, or a time when someone has said something hurtful to them. After each student shares, they tear away part of the heart. After each student has shared, the teacher can ask the students to tape the heart back together again. Hold up the mended heart to the class. The teacher says, “even though the heart has been mended it will never be the same as it was before. We can forgive others, but hurtful words and actions can stick with a person for a lifetime, and their heart will never be the same.”
34: Mia's Special Pencil Writing Activity - Students are to write about a special gift that they have received.
Chapter 35: American Idioms - Students are asked to draw a picture and describe the provided idioms.
Chapter 41: Extra Extra - In this chapter, something terrible happens to Mia’s mom. Students are asked to create a headline and newspaper article to outline the events.
Chapter 42: Tic Tac Toe - Students are to pair up and play tic tac toe by answering the questions on the game board.
Chapter 46: Thanksgiving With the Weeklies - Students are asked to draw and describe their own special occasions.
Chapter 47: Extra Extra 2 - Students are asked to create a headline and article about Xiao Zheng's experience working in a restaurant.
Chapter 49-50: Thoughts - Students are to pair up and share their thoughts on the page regarding Hank’s comment.
Chapter 51: Don’t Judge a Book By It's Cover - Discussion questions on Mia's letter to the store.
Chapter 52: The Power of Mia's Letters - Students brainstorm issues and topics that they are passionate about and answer some discussion questions.
Chapter 52: Writing a Small Moment - Students identify a small moment and describe it using the organizer provided.
Chapter 54: Room 6 - Discussion questions related to the chapter.
Chapter 56: Be Better: Double-Sided Journal Entry - Students react to a passage in the text.
Chapter 55-57: Emoji Reactions - Students identify emojis to express their feelings on the events in the chapters.
Chapter 60: Roll and Answer 2 - Students work with a partner to roll and answer questions based on the chapter.
Chapter 63-67: No Amount is Too Small - Students answer questions regarding the end of the book.
Reflection Questions - Questions that can be distributed across the class for discussion.
Reflection Tasks - Included are some possible ideas for final tasks related to the novel. You can have students choose one activity of their choice, or use it as a tic-tac toe style board, and have them complete a row of activities.
Get Hands On: STEM Activity - This activity gives the students an opportunity to create their own motel using a variety of materials.
I hope you enjoy!
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