So Long a Letter Lesson Plan

A Letter from... Part 1

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will imagine Aissatou's answer to Ramatoulaye's letters.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.A

Structure:

This is the first day of a unit-long activity.

The only voice we really hear in So Long a Letter is Ramatoulaye's. Though we sometimes get pieces of dialogue, they are all filtered through her perspective and retelling. In this activity, students will give voice to other characters by writing letters addressed to Ramatoulaye.

For the first day, ask students to imagine how Aissatou might respond to Ramatoulaye's initial letters. What advice and condolences might she...