One Plastic Bag

by Miranda Paul and Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Literacy Invitations

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 Book Summary

http://oneplasticbag.com/explore-the-book/

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia tells the inspiring
story of five women who creatively dealt with their village’s plastic trash problem. Despite limited
resources and ridicule, Isatou and her friends persevered for more than a decade, eventually
realizing economic empowerment through their recycled plastic purse project. The book also
includes bonus information such as a Wolof language glossary, timeline of actual events, and
photos of the women of Njau.

Learning Invitations:

“Africa is Not a Country”

“African Folktales”
“One Plastic Bag, One World: The Importance of Reducing and Reusing”
“Pursuing a Dream”

Social Studies Themes

Geography
People and cultures
Environmental issues and preservation of natural earth

English Language Arts Standards

Reading:
Determine theme
Genre study: nonfiction, traditional literature (folktales)

Writing:
Conduct research
Informative composition
Persuasive composition

Media Literacy:
Identify the target audience for a particular media message

Speaking Literacy:
Engage in collaborative discussion
Create engaging presentations

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 Invitation Resources and Additional Materials
Invitation organization:
I. Cover page at the beginning of each invitation-which can be used as a cover to your
folders in your invitations, or can cover the box/bin/whatever you use to hold the
materials
II. Page(s) of pictures of the setup for each invitation
III. Extra artifacts (pictures, maps, etc.) that can be printed and glued onto construction or
poster paper and laminated
IV. Invitation instructions for students
V. Activity documents: graphic organizers, writing outlines, etc.
VI. Checklist of materials- attach or include this somewhere at your station or with your
materials so that students can return things properly

Resource list by invitation

“Africa is Not a Country”

A. Books to include
i. Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove
ii. A is for Africa by Ifeoma Onyefulu
B. Various maps and pictures
C. Pre-Research sheet
D. Websites Ticket
E. Research Notes sheets
F. Optional: iPads
G. Student Pack Up Checklist

“African Folktales”
A. Books to include
i. Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa by Gerald McDermott
ii. The Leopard’s Drum: An Asante Tale from West Africa by Jessica
Souhami
iii. Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema
B. Biome map
C. Geography and Wildlife Booklet
D. Folktale Organizer
E. Geography and Folktales sheet
F. Folktale Storyboard
G. Art project directions and examples (separate book not included)
H. Student Pack Up Checklist

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 “One Plastic Bag, One World: The Importance of Reducing and Reusing”
A. Books to include
i. Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan
Hood
i. Reducing and Recycling Waste: Improving Our Environment by Carol
Inskipp
B. Reducing and Reusing- Beyond Recycling sheet
C. Environment Issue Persuasive Writing Outline
D. Box of Inspiration
i. Fill a cardboard box with any of the following items:
i. Plastic bottle
i. Tin can
iv. Plastic fork/spoon
v. Yogurt cup
vi. Foil
E. Recycling activity and craft booklet (not included)
F. Student Pack Up Checklist

“Pursuing a Dream”
A. Books
i. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by
Laurie Ann Thompson
i. Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter
B. Portraits
C. Compare and Contrast organizers for two and three items
D. Personal Narrative Outline
E. Student Pack Up Checklist

Good insight for teacher before instruction:

http://www.bu.edu/africa/outreach/teach2/

When I begin teaching about the book, I first read the book and we worked on the
author’s purpose activity below:

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 Name: Date:

Author’s Purpose
Title:
Evidence from the text

Purpose:
Think about P.I.E.

Audience

Message/Main Idea

Now, compile all of this information into a written response:

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 You’re Invited!
You are invited to embark on this exciting journey to Africa! It is a privilege
to go on this travel with your friends. In order to make sure our trip goes
smoothly, please keep the following expectations in mind:

MATERIALS

 No food/drink: around the invitations and materials

 Designated area: Invitations and all materials must stay in their

designated area

 Be respectful: of all materials

 Share materials: ensure that everyone has a fair chance to see all
materials

 Cleanup: all group members must stay and clean until the entire area
is put back together

GROUP WORK

 Quiet: work at an appropriate volume

 On topic: your conversations may evolve, as we discussed, but

should still relate back to a purpose of learning (not about recess, for
example)

 Be respectful: to your classmates using responsible communication

I agree to the expectations stated above. I will work hard and take
charge of my learning.

Print name:

Sign name: Date:

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 AFRICA IS
NOT A COUNTRY

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 Setup

Rachel Melnick, Intermediate Language Arts, Marlin Elementary School

 People of the Gambia

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 Isatou Ceesay

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 AFRICA IS NOT A
COUNTRY
My favorite animal is the koala, but his life would be boring. I would rather be a giraffe so that I
could contemplate the beauty of Africa.
-Caterina Murino

1. Preconceived ideas
 Before browsing through the materials, please take and fill out the “Pre-
Research” sheet in the first column only.

2. Investigating
 Skim through and read interesting pages in the book, Africa is Not a
Country.
 Have your conceptions about Africa changed at all? How so?

3. Conduct research
 Return to the book, Africa is Not a Country. Find a country that looks
appealing and interesting to you.
 Find the “Research Notes” sheet.
 Using the “Websites Ticket” and/or the MCPL World Book, begin
researching your chosen country and fill out your Research Notes sheet.

4. Extension: Share your knowledge

 Share your findings by creating something to display in the classroom.
You may make a poster or create a slideshow using your iPad. You may
also use some of the templates and ideas in the Country Projects book.
Have fun!

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 Websites Ticket
Search engine: Resource websites:
http://www.kidrex.org/ Kids Britannica

Kids World Travel Guide

Monroe Country Public Library:
Student World Book Online

Ducksters Geography
Culturegrams
(will need MCPL login information)

Activity Village

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Name: Date:

Pre-Research

When I think about Africa, What I want to know

I think about… about Africa

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Name: Date:

AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY: Research Notes

Part I Choose a country to research
Browse through the book, Africa is Not a Country and find a country that is interesting to you
that you would like to research. Use your Pre-Research sheet as a starting point to help you fill
out your research notes.

Part II Choose a topic

Determine a topic. For the purpose of this informative research paper, you will need to choose a
specific topic to study. After selecting your country of choice, choose what aspect of that culture
you wish learn about and explore. Below is a list of example topics that you may choose from or
come up with your own.

 Wildlife
 Food/cuisine
 Lifestyle (type of home, do people live in a city or rural area, family structure, etc.)
 Historical events (choose a specific event)
 Historical figures (choose a specific person or organization)
 Cultural values
 Recreation (sports, games, hobbies)
 Clothing (traditional or modern)
 Landmarks
 Geography

Use the “What I want to know” section to come up with five questions that you will try and find
answers for throughout your research. Below are some questions stems to get you started.

How do/does/did . . . What causes/caused . . .

What happens when . . . What are/were the effects/results of . . .
What is/was the role of . . . in . . . What does/do…
What is/was the difference between . . .

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

Part III Subtopics and Notes
Please fill out this graphic organizer to choose and plan for which subtopics you are going to
research. Your topic will be the area of life that you chose from the list above (or came up with
yourself). Next, come up with a variety of 3-4 subtopics which would fall under the umbrella of
the topic. Fill out your subtopics FIRST before taking additional notes.

Now that you have determined your topic and subtopics, you can start to collect notes. Your
subtopics will be the main ideas for paragraphs that you will write later. You will need to
research to learn about those subtopics and list the information that you find. Keep in mind that
notes should be brief and to the point. This will help you to avoid plagiarizing and also doing
“double work” by writing your first draft here and then rewriting it later.
Example:
Topic: Food/cuisine
Subtopic: food in this area (What kinds of produce is there? What grains do they grow?)
Subtopic: typical or traditional dishes
Subtopic: dishes served at special occasions

Topic:
Subtopic:


Subtopic:


Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

Subtopic:


Subtopic:


Part IV Outline
Here you will need to review the notes that you took. In which order would it make sense to
order your subtopics in your research report? In which order should you organize the bulleted
details under each subtopic? The outline (find separate sheet) will be where you need to
rearrange all of your subtopics and details into a way that makes sense to your audience. You
will also need to include an introduction paragraph with a “hook” and a conclusion paragraph to
“wrap it all up”.

Part V Edit and Revise

Use the revising and editing checklists offered in class to review your paper.
Hint: Revise first and THEN edit after you’ve moved things around.

Part VI Finalize
Now that you have completed your work, you may handwrite in pen or type your final draft!

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

Name: Date:

Outline for Informative Research Report

Country:
Topic:
I. Introduction:
a. “Hook”
b.
c.
d.
II. Subtopic
a.
b.
c.
d.
III. Subtopic
a.
b.
c.
d.
IV. Subtopic
a.
b.
c.
V. Conclusion
a.
b.
c.

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 Africa is not a Country
Clean Up Checklist
Please return the following items
back to the appropriate places:

 Invitation folder

 Books
a. Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns
Knight and Mark Melnicove
b. A is for Africa by Ifeoma Onyefulu

 Maps

 Culture snapshots

 Flag pictures

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 AFRICAN
FOLKTALES

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 Setup

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 Africa
Geography and Wildlife
Booklet

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 Sahara Desert

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 Nile River

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 Kalahari Desert

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 Mount Kilimanjaro

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 Congo River

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 African Savannah

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 Baobab Tree

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 Acacia Tree

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 African Elephant

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 African Spurred Tortoise

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 Crocodile

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 Iguana

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 Leopard

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 Lion

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 African Rock Python

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 Scrub Hare

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 Vervet Monkey

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 West African Cattle

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 African Reticulated Giraffe

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 African Grass Owl

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 AFRICAN FOLKTALES
What I find interesting about folklore is the dialogue
it gives us with storytellers from centuries past.
- Terri Windling (writer, artist, and book editor)

1. Folktales teach morals, or, lessons.

 Choose a folktale to read. Fill out the “Folktale Graphic Organizer” and
determine the moral of the story.

2. Geography and Life

 Look through the Geography Booklet and browse through the pictures of
landscapes, animals, and vegetation that are present in the three folktales.
 Watch the virtual fieldtrip by scanning the QR code below:

Virtual Field Trip

 How do you think that the landscape affects what animals and vegetation
are in the area? How does landscape and wildlife affect the story? Fill out
the “Geography and Folktales” graphic organizer.

3. Write your own folktale

 Use the Folktale Planning Sheet to help you determine a setting,
characters, plot, and moral.

4. Extension: Artwork
 Like folktales are traditional literature, see the examples of traditional art.
Choose a template and follow the directions to create a piece of artwork.

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

Name: Date:

Fables and Folk Tales Graphic Organizer

Name of Story:

Setting Characters

Beginning

Middle (problem/conflict)

End (solution/consequence)

Moral/Lesson

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Name: Date:

Geography and Folktales

Geographical feature/wildlife How this affects folktale

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Name: Date:

My Folk Tale Storyboard

Name of Story:

Setting Characters

Beginning

Middle (problem/conflict)

End (solution/consequence)

Moral/Lesson

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 African Folktales
Clean Up Checklist
Please return the following items
back to the appropriate places:

 Invitation folder

 Books
a. Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West
Africa by Gerald McDermott
b. The Leopard’s Drum: An Asante Tale from
West Africa by Jessica Souhami
c. Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears by
Verna Aardema

 Africa Geography and Wildlife Booklet

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 ONE PLASTIC BAG;

ONE WORLD

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 Setup

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 ONE PLASTIC BAG; ONE WORLD
The importance of Reducing and Reusing
We live in a disposable society. It's easier to throw things out than to fix them.
We even give it a name - we call it recycling.
-Neil LaBute

1. Beyond Recycling
 Read the quote above. The speaker is pointing out that even when we
“recycle” we are still taking items and “throwing things out” to be broken
down and remade elsewhere.
 There is no denying the importance of recycling vs. throwing things into a
waste bin. However, what if we were to think outside of the box and
beyond just “throwing things out”, even if they are to be recycled at a
facility. Even when things are recycled, time and energy is spent on
breaking down products to make new ones. What if we REDUCED the
amount of things that we had that needed to be recycled? What if we
REUSED the things that we had, rather than send them to a recycling
facility.
 Fill out the graphic organizer on “Reducing and Reusing- Beyond
Recycling” to come up with a list of ways that you can go beyond the bin in
your life.

2. Persuasive Writing
 In Isatou’s village, there is a problem where too many single-use plastic
bags accumulated. She came up with a solution, which was to make coin
purses by weaving together strips of the plastic bags. Another solution
though, is to bring and use reusable bags when shopping.
 Brainstorm and come up with an environmental topic with reasons to
support your claim that would persuade others to take action. Why is your
issue important and why should we support it?
 Determine what form your writing will take. Will it be an essay or letter, for
example? Who is your audience for this writing?
 Fill out the “Environment Issue Persuasive Writing Outline”
 Write, revise, edit, and finalize your writing on your iPad.

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 3. Box of Inspiration
 Take a look at the things inside of the box of inspiration. One item is an
actual coin purse made in the Gambia by Isatou Ceesay. Then there are
some other items, including the box itself!
 Using these items as inspiration, use the “My ReUSE Project” sheet and
design something that could be constructed using any of the items you
see or any other items that you can think of that would otherwise be
thrown away or put into recycling.

4. Extension: Recycled project

 If you feel inspired, you can make the project at home and bring it in to
share with the class!

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 Name: Date:

Reducing and Reusing:

Beyond Recycling

Directions:
Browse through the books on reusing and reducing wastes. Think of ways that you can
reduce and reuse at school and home.

Things I throw out Things I recycle

Ways I can REDUCE my waste/recycling:

Ways I can REUSE items:

Topic:

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

Name: Date:

Environmental Issue
Persuasive Writing Outline

What is your purpose for writing this piece (to persuade, inform or entertain)?

Don’t forget to bring your RAFT!

Role of writer
Audience (who are you writing to?
Form (what form is the writing in?)
Topic (see your topic sheet)

Your opinion statement (thesis):

Reasons:

1.

2.

3.

Counter argument:

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 I. Introduction

a. Attention-grabbing beginning

b. Description of the issue

c. Opinion statement (see your topic sheet)

II. Reason 1:
a. Examples/evidence

b. Examples/evidence

c. Examples/evidence

d. Examples/evidence

III. Reason 2:
a. Examples/evidence

b. Examples/evidence

c. Examples/evidence

d. Examples/evidence

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IV. Reason 3:
a. Examples/evidence

b. Examples/evidence

c. Examples/evidence

d. Examples/evidence

V. Counter
a. Counter example:

b. Rebuttal:

i. Example/evidence

VI. Conclusion
a. Restate opinion

b. Recap three reasons

c. Call to action (closing statement)

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 One Plastic Bag; One World
Clean Up Checklist
Please return the following items
back to the appropriate places:

 Invitation folder

 Books
o Count how many there are at the start of
your station and make sure that all are
returned. These books come from the MCPL
and will need to be returned soon!

 Coin purse made from plastic bags

 Box of Inspiration
o Plastic bottle
o Tin can
o Plastic fork/spoon
o Yogurt cup
o Foil

 Craft Booklet

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 PURSUING
A DREAM

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 Setup

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 Isatou Ceesay

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 Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

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 Wangari Maathai

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“People thought I was too
young and that women
couldn’t be leaders. I
took these things as
challenges; they gave me
more power. I didn’t call
out the problems-
I called out solutions.”

-Isatou Ceesay

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017

 PURSUING A DREAM
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act,
but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”
-Anatole France

1. Meet the Dreamers

 Please find the books, Wangari’s Trees and Emmanuel’s Dream. Each of
these tell true stories about real people- just like in One Plastic Bag.
Choose one to read or read both books.

2. Compare their Stories

 Choose two stories that you will compare and contrast. For an extra
challenge, you can compare and contrast all three stories!
 Use the Compare and Contrast organizer to note the similarities and
differences between the stories that you chose.
 Then, on lined paper or your iPad, write an analysis that compares the
stories you chose.

3. Personal Narrative
 Think of a time when you had an aspiration or dream. Keep the following
questions in mind.
i. What was your end goal?
ii. What steps did you take to achieve that goal?
iii. Did you have success? If you didn’t, did you still accomplish
something or learn a lesson?
 Use the Personal Narrative Outline to plan your writing.
 Write, revise, edit, and finalize an essay on your iPad.

4. Extension: Imagine a Conversation

 Imagine that two (or all three) of the people featured in these books met.
What would their conversation be like?
 Create and write a dialogue between the people that you chose.

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Name: Date:

Compare and Contrast

Book: Similarities Book:

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 Name: Date:

Compare and Contrast

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Name: Date:

Personal Narrative Writing Outline

My small moment topic:

Set the Scene

Who is in the story Where did your small

Sensory details:
with you? moment take place?
Sight

Taste

Touch

Sound

Smell

Hook:

Beginning

Middle details

End

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 I. Introduction

a. Attention-grabbing beginning

b. Description of the setting

II. Event 1:
a. Detail

b. Detail

c. Detail

d. Detail

III. Event 2:
a. Detail

b. Detail

c. Detail

d. Detail

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IV. Event 3:
a. Detail

b. Detail

c. Detail

d. Detail

V. Ending- Wrap up: give closure and finish the story

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 Pursuing a Dream
Clean Up Checklist
Please return the following items
back to the appropriate places:

 Invitation folder

 Books
a. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann
Thompson
b. Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette
Winter

 Portraits

Melnick Global Literacy Invitations 2017