This novel is the first in Kwame Mbalia's Tristan Strong series. The novel's protagonist, Tristan, is a seventh-grader who accidentally creates a hole in the Midpass, a world where ancient African gods clash with gods in African American legend. While we will be taking a closer look at the literary aspects throughout the novel, the full reading should be done outside of class. I like to tailor in-class activities specifically to student interest, but a loose outline of each week's class is as follows:

WEEK ONE: Chapters 1-10
-Discussion/ vocabulary introduction
-Who's Who of African and African American tales game
-Activating background knowledge for the components of traditional fables
-Research a folktale character assignment

WEEK TWO: Chapters 11-20
-Discussion of reading/ presentations of folktale characters
-Discuss mood and tone 
-Plan for reader's theater in small groups.
-Comprehension/ vocabulary game

WEEK THREE: Chapters 21-30
-Discussion of reading
-African legend reader's theater skits
-Comprehension/ vocabulary game

WEEK FOUR: Chapters 31-40
-Discussion of reading
-Learn about Adinkra symbols
-Adinkra cloth art project

WEEK FIVE: Chapters 41-51 
-Discussion of reading
-Compare/contrast original fables to Tristan Strong versions
-Storyboard your favorite scene

WEEK SIX: 
-Discussion of reading
-Map creation project using imagery from the story
-Comprehension trivia game

WEEK SEVEN: 
-Discussion of reading
-Guided fable writing project
-Comprehension trivia

WEEK EIGHT: Review
-Presentation of writing
-Escape Room!

*The art used for the class cover photo was created by Eric Wilkerson. More of his work can be found here: 
www.ericwilkersonart.com