Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Character Collage”

In this activity, students will select a character from the novel and create a character collage representing that character’s attributes.

Slam attends a charter school in the Bronx known for its visual arts program. He creates a documentary on his hometown and eventually paints a portrait of Mtisha.

Pretend that you also attend Slam’s school and are responsible for creating a piece of visual media—in this case, a collage. Select another important character from the novel and create a character collage portraying their physical characteristics, mannerisms, beliefs, and personality based on their descriptions in the novel.

• Select an important character in the novel.
• Brainstorm attributes of the character, including appearance, personality, and important quotes from the novel.
• Search for relevant images, words, or phrases that represent your character.
• Create a collage using the materials you have acquired.
• Share your collage with the class, explaining how the images and words represent your character.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to see examples of character collages before beginning their project. Students can then work in small groups to discuss the attributes of different characters in the novel and how those attributes can be presented in a collage.