Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again full novel study, click HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT).
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai is a beautiful and poignant novel that follows young Ha as she immigrates from Vietnam to Alabama with her family. The novel is told through poems and provides insight into the struggles of adapting to a new culture. This book is an excellent choice for teaching in the classroom because it has multiple layers of content that can be explored. Let’s take a look at how teachers can use this book to engage their students in meaningful discussions about immigration and cultural identity.
Establishing Background Knowledge
Before teaching Inside Out and Back Again, it is important to establish some background knowledge on the topic of immigration. This can include discussing why people choose to migrate, how migration affects families, what challenges immigrants may face upon arriving in their new country, etc. Once students have some context on these topics, they will be better able to relate to the story of Ha’s experience as an immigrant.
Exploring Poetry
The majority of Inside Out and Back Again is told through poetry which allows readers to gain deeper insights into Ha’s feelings throughout her journey. By exploring the book’s poetic structure, teachers can help students understand how writers use language to communicate complex emotions. Students can also be encouraged to write their own poems about themes from the book such as friendship, family, loss, or identity.
Analyzing Characters and Plot Development
Inside Out and Back Again features many interesting characters who each contribute something different to the story—Ha’s mother, father, brother, grandmother, teacher Mrs. Washington, and even her pet turtle Little Turtle. As they read through the book with their students, teachers should point out how each character influences the plot development as well as discuss the different ways that these characters navigate their new lives in America (e.g., learning English vs keeping one’s native language).
Creating an Engaging Discussion
As you read through the book with your class, take breaks throughout each chapter to discuss any questions or comments that may come up. Encourage students to relate aspects of Hà’s story with their own lives and experiences—this will create more meaningful conversations and connections between them and Hà’s struggles as a refugee. You can also pause occasionally to ask reflective questions related to the text such as “What do you think is going through Hà’s mind right now? What would you do if you were in her shoes?” These open-ended questions stimulate critical thinking skills as well as empathy for Hà’s plight.
Fostering Connections Through Writing Activities
Writing activities are a great way for students to further explore themes from Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again and apply them in real life situations. For example, after completing each chapter, have students write letters from Hà’s perspective detailing her thoughts on different events as they occur throughout the novel. Have students reflect on how they would feel if they were going through similar circumstances as Hà did—this will help them better understand what she was going through while also fostering empathy among classmates. Or assign creative writing assignments where kids write stories about refugees or immigrants in their own lives—this helps bring attention to real-world issues while allowing kids a chance to express themselves creatively.
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Integrating Hà’s Story into Your Curriculum
When teaching Inside Out and Back Again, it may be helpful to first introduce students to the historical context of the Vietnam War. Explaining the political events that shaped Hà’s journey can help young readers understand why she was forced to leave her beloved homeland. Incorporating readings from other authors who have written about the Vietnam War such as Tim O’Brien or Le Ly Heslip can also provide students with additional insight into this tumultuous period in history. Once you have provided students with this background information, you can discuss how Hà’s experiences reflect her identity formation as a Vietnamese refugee living in Alabama. Through short discussions and writing activities, encourage your class to identify moments in which Hà learns more about herself and develops a stronger sense of self-confidence amidst adversity. You could also ask them to identify similarities between Hà’s experiences and those of other refugees throughout history such as Jews fleeing Nazi Germany or Cubans escaping Fidel Castro’s regime.
Incorporating Artistic Activities into Your Lessons
Encourage your class to explore their own identities through art projects inspired by Inside Out and Back Again. For example, ask them write Haikus—a type of poem originating from Japan—to represent how they think Hà feels when she arrives in Alabama or how she feels at various points throughout her journey back home. Additionally, you could assign a creative journaling project where students create sketches or illustrations that depict key scenes from the novel or reflections on their own cultural heritage.
Teaching Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai offers educators a great opportunity to open up meaningful conversations with their students about immigration and cultural identity. The book provides plenty of opportunities for teachers to explore poetry writing as well as analyzing characters and plot development. By establishing some background knowledge on immigration before beginning this novel study unit, teachers will be able to guide their class through Ha’s story in an engaging way that encourages thoughtful discussion on this important topic.
Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again full novel study, click HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT).
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