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I decided to draw the figure with a few internal thoughts of humiliation, bravery, culture, intelligence, curiosity, pride, and determination. I did these said words because you can see how Margret wants to seek out an education and convinces her parents to let her and she faces a lot of challenges along the way. I put making fun of her, being cold, mocking her, fighting to get an education, and being treated unfairly on the outside because they were all factors that effected Margret's life in the end.

Personal response to the book:

I feel the book had some very powerful themes overall as we get to see into the life of this young girl and how her experience in school was harsh. She dealt with so much including humiliation and a stripping of her own identity/ culture. I feel it really puts into perspective how important culture is within classrooms. It something that needs to be respected and cherished because you never know the effects that it can have on a student.

Effectiveness: Overall, I would say that this assignment would be very beneficial for students as it can really help them analyze a character for internal and external factors that may change the course of their life or a story in general. This can be a great comprehension strategy as well as this can be a tool for them to look back on when reading a story.

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Ashley Welday: Everything Sad is Untrue 

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Ashley Welday: Everything Sad is Untrue 

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Everything Sad Is Untrue moved me deeply. Daniel’s voice felt so honest and raw, and the way he wove together memory, myth, and truth really made me think about how powerful stories can be. I admired his resilience in the face of so much loss, and I was struck by how he held on to his identity and culture, even when others didn’t understand him. It reminded me that everyone carries invisible stories, and we need to listen more closely to truly see each other.

In this activity, I chose Daniel/Naderi, the narrator of Everything Sad Is Untrue. I listed observable traits, like his language, religion, ethnicity, and behavior, on the outside to show how others might judge or understand him at first glance. Then, I placed his internal values and beliefs, like his love for storytelling, his faith, resilience, and pride in his heritage, inside a heart to represent what shapes him on a deeper level.

This activity is highly effective for students because it encourages them to think critically and empathetically about a character's identity. By separating the observable traits from the internal values and beliefs, students gain a deeper understanding of how cultural identity is complex and not always visible. It also helps students build empathy by recognizing that people are more than what they appear on the surface.

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Fatty Legs was eye-opening and emotional. It’s a powerful account of the strength of an Indigenous girl who fights to preserve her culture despite being forced into an environment that tried to erase it. Her story shows the deep pain of cultural loss but also the enduring strength of cultural identity.

Cultural X-Ray: I created an X-ray for Margaret, focusing on the contrast between her visible traits (like her appearance and language) and her internal values (family, cultural identity, resilience). This helped me understand how much more complicated her identity is than just what others saw. The internal values she held were key to her survival in the school.

Effectiveness: This activity is great for helping students understand identity in a nuanced way. It shows how different aspects of a person’s identity—some visible and some hidden—work together to shape who they are. It's a great tool for building empathy and critical thinking.

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Description: Ekkapol Chantawong is the young coach in the book All Thirteen. When the soccer team gets stuck in a cave in Thailand after practice, he offers a calm presence and values keeping the team as safe and protected as he can. He is from Thailand and his spirituality helps him and his mental wellbeing when they are stuck in the cave.

Personal Response:

This book was a powerful story that resembles a team that became a true family and helped each other through a difficult time. I chose the coach for this activity because I felt that he made a powerful impact throughout the story.

Effectiveness:

I think that this activity of creating a Character Xray helps students not only recognize physical character traits about a character such as their appearance and actions, but also their emotional and personality traits that make them who they are.

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I read the book, Fatty Legs, by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. Margaret is deeply in tune with her culture and begs her parents to go to residential school in hopes of learning how to read. She faces intense bullying and cruelness from the people around her. This book is a very moving story and provides a glimpse into the lives of Indigenous people who experienced prejudice. It made me sad how all Margaret wanted was to get an education and learn to read, but she was treated unfairly because of her culture and appearance. Margaret's bravery and resilience throughout the story both helped her come out stronger on the other side and open up to others' in order to help spread awareness of abuse, bullying, and many other important issues.

My cultural x-ray includes pieces of Margaret's identity, such as her culture, gender, and background. I noted the brief experiences she dealt with while in residential school. I placed some of her internal traits, such as her curiosity and strength, in the heart as these characteristics helped her escape and contributed to who she is today.

Effectiveness: This activity is effective for students as it can help them connect a character's experiences to how they feel on the inside. It encourages them to focus in on the important details of the character and what events led them to their outcome. It also shows that people come from all different walks of life, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, making them more aware and open-minded.

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I thought this was a very powerful and interesting book to read. The journey that Omar and his brother go on throughout the whole book is amazing to see the resilience they have despite their hardships. I really like the layout of how their story is told and how it follows them from young boys to growing and changing with new experiences and opportunities.

I created the character X-Ray on Omar. I thought the role he played in the book was so important, and he is a complex person. On the outside, I listed the aspects of Omar that are evident and that affect him. On his head and legs I listed just a few characteristics that can be seen through his actions. And finally, on the inside of the heart, I listed the most notable characteristics that shape who Omar is as a person.

After completing this activity for the book, I can see how this would be beneficial for students. This activity allows for students to really dig deeper with their understanding of the character and the events that affect them. It helps guide their thinking to more of the aspects of the character rather than just the events that take place.

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Reading When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed was a powerful experience. It opened my eyes to what life is like for kids growing up in refugee camps. I felt connected to Omar and Hassan’s story, especially the way they still found hope and strength even in hard times.

For my Cultural X-Ray, I chose Omar Mohamed as my character. I drew a simple body outline and labeled the outside with what people see: he’s a Somali boy, a refugee, a big brother, Muslim, and a student in a refugee camp. He speaks Somali and some English, and he wants to go to school even though it's really difficult in the camp.

On the inside (the heart), I put the values that really matter to him: hope, responsibility, love for his brother Hassan, faith, and determination to get an education. These are things people might not see right away, but they drive everything he does.

This activity helped me think deeper about characters in nonfiction. It made me realize how much of someone’s identity is invisible like their beliefs, values, and what they’ve been through. I think this would be a really effective activity for other students too, because it helps you connect to people on a more human level and understand what shapes them beyond what you can see

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Reading All Thirteen was a powerful and moving experience. I was deeply inspired by the courage and resilience shown not just by the boys and Coach Ek, but also by the global rescue team that came together selflessly. What stood out most was how calm and focused the boys remained, even in life-threatening and scary conditions. I found myself thinking about how culture, community, and mindfulness practices played a big role in their survival.

In this cultural x-ray activity, I analyzed the outward (observable) and inward (internal) parts of Coach Ek’s identity. On the outside, people could see he was a young Thai man, a Buddhist, and a soccer coach who used meditation. But on the inside, he held deep beliefs in compassion, responsibility, and selflessness. His past as a Buddhist monk deeply influenced how he guided the boys through meditation to keep them calm.

This activity is highly effective for students because it builds empathy and deepens their understanding of diverse perspectives. By separating the visible aspects of identity from the invisible values and beliefs, students are encouraged to think beyond surface-level assumptions and stereotypes.

It also promotes critical thinking about how culture shapes behavior and decision-making.

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This was a powerful story of how a person's resilience and faith can get them where they want to go. Daniel was challenged and reminded of such loss throughout his story in such an inspiring way. He clung to his culture and religious beliefs to persevere and encourage others. This kind of story reminds us of how others' stories, although unknown to us, are impactful on their character and identity.

For this activity, I chose Naderi for this very reason and listed just traits and what I believe helped him carry on. He is an Iranian man who speaks Farsi and English. In his core, he has a want for belonging, love, and family. As well as that being his courage/drive to flee no matter what he faces along the way, he continued. What carries him through is his religious faith and the stories he has to share in which shape him into who he is.

I believe this activity to be very effective and a great way to offer perspective. Not only are they using comprehension of the text, but they also analyze specifics and/or what resonates most with them. A story can be moving, informational, and intriguing, and this activity challenges all three.

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Margaret Pokiak-Fenton's book Fatty Legs was an eye-opening story of a young Inuit girl's experience at a residential school. Reading this book was both upsetting and inspirational. Margaret's willingness to learn and determination in the face of bullying and cultural erasure were very remarkable. It made me think about the significance of cultural identity and how schools and society may shape a child's sense of self. Margaret's journey demonstrates the strength of her spirit as well as the value of appreciating and embracing one's cultural heritage.

For my cultural x-ray of Margaret, I separated her identity into external and internal characteristics. On the outside, I labeled the bullying that she faced about her legs. Her family supporting her, the residential school she attended, and the unique gender-related challenges she deals with, these components of her identity became apparent to others, and in the context of the residential school, they made her vulnerable to bullying and prejudice. As for the inside of the heart, I put her values and beliefs. Despite being under scrutiny, Margaret's cultural identity was vital to who she was. Curiosity and a desire for education drove her throughout the book, and she aspired to learn to read and write. Despite the hard and unfair conditions at the school, she fought hard to maintain her dignity and stay faithful to her roots.

The Cultural X-Ray activity is a great way to help children comprehend the complexities of character identity. It enables them to investigate both the outward aspects of a character and the interior qualities that characterize them. It allows students to better grasp topics such as bullying and cultural identity. This practice is ideal for developing empathy and comprehension. It helps students to consider how both visible and hidden aspects of identity affect a person's actions and experiences.

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After reading Fatty Legs by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, I created a cultural x-ray to show what Margaret was feeling on the inside versus what was happening to her on the outside. In the center, I added words like bravery, curiosity, pride, and determination because honestly, that’s what stood out the most to me about her. She wanted to learn how to read so badly that she begged her parents to send her to a residential school, even though she didn’t know exactly what was waiting for her. That kind of determination, especially at such a young age, really stuck with me.

Around the outside of the figure, I wrote things like bullying, being cold, mocked, made fun of, and treated unfairly because that’s what Margaret had to deal with every single day at that school. And the sad part is, all she wanted was an education. It was really upsetting to read how badly she was treated, not because she did anything wrong, but just because of her culture and how she looked. It honestly made me angry at times, but also really opened my eyes.

This assignment actually helped me understand her better. It wasn’t just about what she went through, but who she was on the inside and how those inner traits helped her push through all of it. Margaret didn’t give up. She stayed strong, even when people tried to strip her of her identity. That made me think a lot about how important it is to respect people’s backgrounds and cultures especially in schools. You never know what someone is holding onto or fighting to keep.

In the end, I think this was a really powerful activity. It wasn’t just about reading a book it made me think deeper. It helped me connect with Margaret’s story and really feel the weight of what she went through. I think this kind of thing is super useful for students because it makes you slow down and actually feel what a character is feeling, instead of just reading about it. It also reminded me that everyone has a story, and we need to be more open-minded about the different paths people come from.

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Personal Response to the Book:

When Stars Are Scattered made me feel grateful for what I have. Omar’s story helped me understand what life is like in a refugee camp. I was inspired by how strong and caring he is, especially the way he takes care of his brother Hassan. I also liked seeing how important school was to him.

Cultural X-Ray and Description:

I chose Omar for my cultural x-ray. On the outside of the body, I wrote things others can see: he speaks Somali, he’s Muslim, he lives in a refugee camp, and he takes care of his brother. On the inside (the heart), I wrote things that show who he is: he’s hopeful, brave, cares about others, values school, and has strong faith. This shows there’s more to people than what we see.

Effectiveness of the Activity:

This activity helps students understand characters better. It makes us think about what someone believes and feels, not just what they look like or where they live. It also helps build empathy and respect for different cultures and experiences.

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Everything Sad is Untrue is an inspiring true story written by Daniel Nayeri. It is a semi-autobiographical novel that blends memoir, storytelling, and myth. The narrative is told from the perspective of a young Iranian refugee named Khosrou, who now goes by Daniel, as he recounts his life story to his middle school classmates in Oklahoma.

I really enjoyed this book and listened to the nearly 8-hour audiobook in under 24 hours. I was inspired by Daniel's bravery and resilience as he shares his life experiences. This book reminded me of some of the students I help through the Nation United program, which consists of immigrant students in middle school, specifically at South Junior High and Hillside Junior High, who participate on a soccer team. Each student in this program has a unique and colorful journey of how they came to America. I know some of the students' stories, while others remain a mystery to me. Daniel’s story encouraged me to interact with everyone at Nation United and to treat all students with kindness and respect. These students bring valuable perspectives to my future classroom by sharing their stories. I would love to recommend this book to many of the refugee students I interact with on a bi-weekly basis. I think many of them would relate and feel understood on a level that some of their peers may not.

For my cultural x-ray project, I created an image to represent Daniel, depicting his desire to belong and to be understood. It also reflects his loyalty to his family, specifically his mom, sister, and dad. On the outside, I included comments from his classmates about his thrift store clothes and his “different smelling food.”

This activity is very effective for helping students understand the identity of a character, but it could also be used for them to explore their own identity. They can create a character x-ray and an x-ray of themselves, allowing them to compare and contrast their similarities and differences.

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Personal Response:

I thought Fatty Legs contained a compelling and eye-opening message. Olemaun was brave and showed resilience despite her differences. Her story showed me how important it is to be proud of who you are, even when others try to change you.

Cultural X-Ray Description:

On the outside and inside of my drawing, I pulled meaningful elements from the story to display a specific message. On the outside, she speaks Inuktitut and English, and lives in a residential school. On the inside, she values reading, her family, and her culture. Feels proud and strong even when treated unfairly

Effectiveness of this Activity:

This activity helped me understand Olemaun more deeply. It showed that what people show on the outside is only part of their story. For students, it’s a great way to build empathy and think about identity, especially when reading about real people.

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Fatty Legs was a powerful and emotional read. Margaret’s bravery in the face of injustice at the residential school was inspiring. I was especially moved by how she stood up for herself and kept her culture alive even when others tried to take it from her. It opened my eyes to how residential schools stripped Indigenous children of their identities and how those experiences continue to affect generations today. Margaret’s story helped me understand resilience, cultural strength, and the importance of telling your own story.

I aimed to highlight the differences between Margarets outward appearance and her inner feelings and beliefs in my Cultural X-Ray of her. I included the outwardly evident aspects of her identification, such as her gender, language, attire, and place of residence, on the exterior of the body form. Her traditional attire, name, and language were among the things that the nuns and other school personnel observed and attempted to change.I put Margaret's inner ideals and beliefs—things that inspired her and kept her resilient despite being mistreated—into the heart. She had a great drive to read and a strong belief in education. She also loved her family, remained optimistic, and kept to her Inuvialuit culture. She was able to withstand the school's attempts to remove her individuality because of her inner qualities.

This exercise is a fantastic way to get kids to reflect on who they are. It pushes children to see past outward appearances and comprehend the values and beliefs that influence a person's behavior. It fosters empathy, cultural understanding, and critical thinking in kids, particularly when they read nonfiction or biographies. I was able to relate to Margaret's experience on a personal level and consider my own identity and beliefs by doing this for her. This seems like a really effective teaching activity for middle and upper elementary school students.

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Personal response: I learned a lot from reading Fatty Legs. I haven't read a nonfiction book in a very long time, and this one was impactful to say the least. The themes of courage and self-esteem are strong throughout. I think having students read this book would teach an important message about standing up against bullying.

Xray: On the outside of my Xray, I described the aspects of Margaret's identity that can be observed from the outside. I included how Margaret was originally from Banks Island and lived with the Inuvialuit community. I also included Aklavik, her school, Inuvialuktun, her native language, and the fact that she is made fun of for her appearance. In the heart, I wrote how she was abused, intimidated, and humiliated, but chooses to be strong, courageous, and persistent. I also included her desire to read.

Effectiveness: I believe this is a very effective activity for students to understand identities. Students can practice their comprehension of identities by creating an Xray of themselves and sharing it with other students.

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I think this book is so empowering. I read this book while touring a students, and I found it to be so engaging and informative. I think out of all the characters, Coach Ek is someone that really makes a difference with his actions but also with just being who he is. You can really see how he loved and cared for the boys and how all he wanted to do was protect them. In my cultural x-ray I showed coach Eks personality and who he was on the outside. He is a young soccer coach from Thailand that has an amazing calm presences and loves the boys he coaches so much. He shows how strong he is when he is taking care of the boys in the cave. He's so adventurous and is very strong in his faith. I think this is such an amazing activity for students to take a deeper dive into one specific character and how they are able to relate to them. I think it really shows to students, but we might show on the outside but also what is on the inside and how much that matters too.

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Maile Deforrest: When Stars are Scattered 

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Maile Deforrest: When Stars are Scattered 

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Reading When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed was really powerful. It tells the true story of Omar and his brother, Hassan, living in a refugee camp in Kenya. I loved reading about Omar’s strength and his love for his brother. Even when life was hard, he never gave up on his goal for a better future. This book helped me understand what life is like for refugee children and made me feel more connected to their story.

For the Cultural X-Ray, I chose Omar. On the outside of the body, I listed things others can see—like that he’s a boy, speaks Somali, is Muslim, lives in a refugee camp, and takes care of his brother. On the inside, I added things that show who he is on the inside—like his hope, patience, strong faith, love for his brother, and determination to get an education. These inner values helped him stay strong.

I think this activity is great for students. It helps them understand that there’s more to people than what we see on the outside. It teaches kindness, empathy, and helps students connect with characters and real people in a deeper way. It’s also a fun way to learn about identity and culture.

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Kate Muchukot : When Stars Are Scattered

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Kate Muchukot : When Stars Are Scattered

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Personal Response: This was such an amazing book to read. Not only did it make me thankful for what I have, but also grateful for the opportunities around me. I, and many others, often take what we are given on a day to day basis for granted. We don't really think about if we will be able to become a teacher or be able to support our siblings. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a heartfelt story.

Cultural Xray: This X-ray is of the character Omar. This is the main character in the story. On the outside we see some of the things that we learn about in the book. For example he is a student, muslim, an older brother, smart, and a refugee. Inside Omar we see that he cares about his younger brother, foster mother, school, his native country and his dreams.

Effectiveness: I think that this is a really effective activity to give students so they can learn and think about a character more. While I did read the book, doing this activity made me think about the Omar differently and remember traits that made him who he is.

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Personal responses:

Fatty Legs is an inspirational true story about a young Inuit girl named Margaret who attends a residential school in Canada. She faces hardships and cruelty, and yet maintains strength and courage. This story is one that I think will speak to students and tell them to be proud of who they are and to not give up.

Cultural x-ray work and a description of it:

In my cultural x-ray I highlighted what is seen by the world, Margaret is a young female Inuit, she wears traditional clothing, and she lived in the Arctic. I also highlighted what is on the inside that may be harder to see. She has faced abuse. she is strong, courageous, and resilient. She is proud of her heritage.

Effectiveness of this activity to students:

The cultural x-ray activity is one that will promote critical thinking and deep exploration of a character's culture and cultural identity. If students were to make one for themselves it could support them in understanding their own identify and exploring the parts of their culture that are important to them.

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I read the book Fatty Lags by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. This book was very eye-opening and emotional. I created a cultural x-ray to show what Margaret was feeling on the inside versus what was happening to her on the outside in the sinner, which was the heart. I put strong, resilient, hopeful, curious, and brave. These are the characteristics that stood out to me about Margaret. Margaret really wanted to attend a residential school to learn how to read, despite her parents not wanting her to go there. They ended up letting her go. Margaret is mistreated at school as her peers bully her.

When reading this book, I found several powerful things as you get to read about this young girl and her experiences at school, which no one should have to go through. Margaret was still a young girl who was trying to fight to preserve her culture, even though people were trying to erase it. This shows how culture is important in the classroom as it can help students feel safe and heard, and everyone should respect one another and what they believe.

I feel like this assignment was effective, and it would be very beneficial for students, as it can help them understand a character's experience and how they feel on the inside. This also teaches different aspects of a person's identity, as some things can be visible, and some things are hidden, creating who they are. Along with where people come from, as everyone is different and everyone has different experiences.

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Everything Sad is Untrue is a very emotional and moving book. The narrator's voice, Daniel, is what stood out to me. Daniel is funny and vulnerable, which makes his narration so good; his storytelling allowed me to see his life. I admired how he described faith. He would say that faith is not just a religious belief but a belief in people and love. This book helped me see the truth, the humor, the pain, and the memories that refugees and immigrants go through.

In the activity, I decided to choose the character Daniel/ Naderi because he is the main character/ narrator of this book. I listed his traits, what's in his core, and what carries him through his religious faith. This is to show who Daniel/Naderi is.

This activity was very effective and can be of great use for students. They get to use comprehension of the text and get to see what relates to them with the character they choose. Students can gain a deeper level of characters because there is always more to them than what you read.