Patina

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1.  What is the origin of track and field events? What are the different events in track and field? After you have made a list of events, create at least 3 different ways to categorize the events and sort items on your list into the categories.

Teaching Suggestion: Track and field as a competitive sport is very important to Patty, the protagonist of Patina. Gaining additional background regarding the events can offer students a greater understanding of plot events and increase interest as they read about practices and meets. Categories might include track or field; arm strength or leg strength; skill or speed. The video resource provides visuals of a relay and the passing of the baton, a significant symbol in the novel. Since it is brief, the class might view it multiple times, perhaps once before reading, again after Chapters 4 and 5, and again after the ending of the novel. To better visualize and prepare for the cliffhanger ending, the video might be paused before the end of the race. Students could then discuss or journal about feelings they have at that moment.

• This 3-minute video from the 2022 NCAA Championships shows the women’s 4x100 meter relay.
• With “A Beginner’s Guide to All of the Events in Track and Field,” Nike presents an explanation of different track and field events.
• This entry in New World Encyclopedia includes historical origin information and world records for different events.

2. What is diabetes? What daily concerns must someone with diabetes face?

Teaching Suggestion: When she was six, Patty’s life was uprooted when her father died suddenly; now, her mother’s struggle with diabetes causes additional stress and change. Studying this topic could provide valuable background for students. The Healthline resource offers a more in-depth examination of how this disease can affect people; it explains a possible reason for amputation, which connects to Patty’s mother’s experience. Students might write additional questions they have, then expand the prompt into a longer research project, with students finding additional resources and searching for answers to their questions. During reading, students might have additional questions on the topic, so pausing and providing time to research again may be important for increased understanding and engagement. Some students might have personal connections to diabetes; depending on individual situations, the topic might be a sensitive one. These students might be offered a choice to address the question as written or to pursue a different contextual angle of Patina, such as author background, similar works, or the difference between private and public schools.

• “Diabetes Basics” from the CDC includes background about diabetes and different types.
• “The Effects of Diabetes on Your Body” from Healthline explores ways diabetes can affect someone. The resource includes visuals and an option to read the article in Spanish.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What hobbies, activities, or groups are important to you and why?

Teaching Suggestion: Track means a great deal to Patty. Running becomes a way to connect to her parents, and the team becomes another family for her. Asking students to reflect on activities important to them offers a chance to build engagement and classroom community as students get to know more about each other. Students might journal about why the hobbies or groups are important to them, reflecting on why they began the activity and reasons for continuing as well as what they enjoy about the activity. This prompt could be expanded to presentations and demonstrations in different formats. In this way, each student might serve as an expert and teacher for the class.

• “Having a Hobby Is Good for You. Here’s How to Find One” from NPR offers some reflections on hobbies and ideas for finding a new passion. There is a longer listening option as well.
• “Jonathan Sanders: A Hobby Can Make You Happy” is an 11-minute TEDx Talk in which teen Jonathan Sanders explores how a hobby helped him through depression.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students with different learning styles, options to respond in varying formats can build agency and increase comprehension. For example, students might create visual arts, music, skits, interactive games, brief talks in the style of a TEDx talk, or videos.