Original Prompt9th grade ELA activities for the short story Volar by Judith Ortiz Cofer
This resource focuses on analyzing imagery and symbolism in Judith Ortiz Cofer's work "Volar". It aims to enable students to explore themes such as identity, social class, and the desire for escape. The learning objectives include identifying sensory imagery, defining vocabulary within the context of the story, connecting character motivations to textual evidence, and explaining the symbolism of flying as a representation of social mobility. Advanced organizers encourage students to contrast physical and imaginary realities, while vocabulary activities enhance comprehension. The reading comprehension section features multiple-choice questions that prompt students to analyze the narrator's childhood experiences and environment. Furthermore, synthesis and analysis tasks challenge students to explore how economic realities shape personal identities and the concept of freedom. The resource also includes a CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) writing task focused on the motif of flight as an expression of the narrator’s struggle for identity.