Letter Writers doing Letter Writers doing “Write” for the Illiterate“Write” for the Illiterate

Lesson to go with Video Clip Lesson to go with Video Clip from the Brazilian Film from the Brazilian Film

“Central Station”“Central Station”

Content StandardContent Standard

NCSS StandardNCSS Standard

1. Culture and cultural diversity 1. Culture and cultural diversity

Explore and Describe similarities and Explore and Describe similarities and differences in the ways groups, societies differences in the ways groups, societies and cultures address similar human needs and cultures address similar human needs and concerns.and concerns.

TargetsTargets

1. Explore the tradition of letter writing1. Explore the tradition of letter writing

2. Explore the problem of illiteracy2. Explore the problem of illiteracy

3. Explore the letter writer and groups that 3. Explore the letter writer and groups that use this service.use this service.

ResourcesResources

Women of Letters Doing Write for the Women of Letters Doing Write for the IlliterateIlliteratewww.smh.comau/articles/2003/06/11/1055www.smh.comau/articles/2003/06/11/1055220661012.html220661012.htmlBusiness Booms for Ancient Afghan Letter Business Booms for Ancient Afghan Letter Writing Art Writing Art http://www.dawn.com/news/824352/businehttp://www.dawn.com/news/824352/business-booms-for-ancient-afghan-letter-writing-ss-booms-for-ancient-afghan-letter-writing-artart

ResourcesResources

New Technology poses challenge to New Technology poses challenge to Mexico City’s traditional scribesMexico City’s traditional scribes

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/nationworld/mexico/20121007-new-nationworld/mexico/20121007-new-technology-poses-challenge-to-capitals-technology-poses-challenge-to-capitals-traditional-scribes.ecetraditional-scribes.ece

Movie “Central Station”Movie “Central Station”

Directed by Walter Salles (1998)Directed by Walter Salles (1998)

Two 1998 Academy Award NominationsTwo 1998 Academy Award Nominations

Central Station on Wikipedia: Central Station on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Stationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Station_%28film%29_%28film%29

http://www.imbd.com/title/tt0140888/ http://www.imbd.com/title/tt0140888/

www.tc.umn.eduwww.tc.umn.edu

The Idea of Letter WritersThe Idea of Letter Writers

1. Letter writers play an important social 1. Letter writers play an important social role in a country where the illiteracy rate is role in a country where the illiteracy rate is high.high.

2. Brazil’s social life is characterized by a 2. Brazil’s social life is characterized by a vast internal migration so letter writers vast internal migration so letter writers connect to individuals and families.connect to individuals and families.

3. Letter writers provide the people with a 3. Letter writers provide the people with a sense of individuality and identity. sense of individuality and identity.

Preview ActivitiesPreview Activities

Ask the students to brainstorm ways that Ask the students to brainstorm ways that they think an illiterate person could get a they think an illiterate person could get a letter written to a friend or family member. letter written to a friend or family member.

DiscussDiscuss

Why do you think that people get paid to Why do you think that people get paid to write letters in some countries? write letters in some countries?

DiscussDiscuss

ProcedureProcedure

Begin the film clip. Begin the film clip.

Start at 00.00- stop at 2:10Start at 00.00- stop at 2:10

Start 2:31- stop at 2:47Start 2:31- stop at 2:47

Start 8:39- stop at 11:14Start 8:39- stop at 11:14

Discussion after the filmDiscussion after the film

Discussion questionsDiscussion questions

What do you think the tools of the trade of letter What do you think the tools of the trade of letter writing include?writing include?

How would new technologies possibly change How would new technologies possibly change the traditional letter writers?the traditional letter writers?

What do you think this quote means?What do you think this quote means?

Letters as Prayers “We should treat with respect Letters as Prayers “We should treat with respect the beautiful custom of letter writing” Edward the beautiful custom of letter writing” Edward Hays from Secular SanctityHays from Secular Sanctity

Letter Writing ActivityLetter Writing ActivityStudents will compare and contrast letter writing and letter dictation.Students will compare and contrast letter writing and letter dictation.Students will pair up. One student will write the letter and the other student will dictate Students will pair up. One student will write the letter and the other student will dictate the letter. Stationary or ruled paper may be used.the letter. Stationary or ruled paper may be used.Themes for the letter will be taken from clips of the film.Themes for the letter will be taken from clips of the film.Themes to choose from: Themes to choose from: Point of view as an observer taken from scenes in the movie. Tell a friend or family Point of view as an observer taken from scenes in the movie. Tell a friend or family member what you saw,member what you saw,heard,heard,ate, orate, orhow you traveled.how you traveled.Students will write their letters using the correct format of a friendly letter.Students will write their letters using the correct format of a friendly letter.Students will use correct format, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation. Students will use correct format, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation. Students will change roles.Students will change roles.Using sticky notesUsing sticky notesStudents will list three adjectives describing the role of letter writing,Students will list three adjectives describing the role of letter writing,Students will list three adjectives describing the role of dictation.Students will list three adjectives describing the role of dictation.

Clips to view and write aboutClips to view and write about

3:30-5:15 people climbing through the 3:30-5:15 people climbing through the windows of the train and the train ride windows of the train and the train ride homehome

11:20-12:30 Orphaned11:20-12:30 Orphaned

12:45-15:00 No Money No Letter12:45-15:00 No Money No Letter

16:20- 18:22 Offer of a Sandwich16:20- 18:22 Offer of a Sandwich

16:20- 18:22 Penalty for Stealing16:20- 18:22 Penalty for Stealing

37:35-38:35 Bus Ride37:35-38:35 Bus Ride

More Clips to Write AboutMore Clips to Write About

46:57-47:35 Hungry46:57-47:35 Hungry

49:22-52:00 Stealing49:22-52:00 Stealing

1:10:50-1:15:45 Religious Ceremony1:10:50-1:15:45 Religious Ceremony

Letter writing RubricLetter writing Rubric

<a <a href='http://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowhref='http://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?code=NXW488X&sp=yes'>Rubric: c.cfm?code=NXW488X&sp=yes'>Rubric: Friendly Letter Writing Rubric</a>Friendly Letter Writing Rubric</a>

ExtensionExtension

1. Students are to make a video of their 1. Students are to make a video of their partner reading their letter. partner reading their letter.