The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya novel study lessons, CLICK HERE on TpT.

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya is a heart-warming story about a middle schooler’s attempt to save his family-run restaurant from annihilation. It is an inspiring tale for students that teaches them about the importance of standing up for what they believe in, as well as the power of community and family. Here are some tips to help you engage your students with this novel in the classroom.
Incorporate Current Events Into Your Lesson Plans
Inclusivity, diversity, and representation are all hot topics in classrooms today. Incorporate these important issues into your lesson plans when discussing The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. Ask your students to consider how they can be more inclusive and diverse in their everyday lives, as well as how they can stand up for others when they see inequality or injustice happening around them. Discussing current events will keep your students engaged and help them connect the novel to real life situations.
Promote Critical Thinking Through Discussion Questions
Encourage critical thinking by asking your students questions pertaining to the novel after each chapter or section. Some examples could include: What were some of Arturo’s challenges? How did he overcome them? What choices did he make that had positive impacts on his situation? What would you have done differently if you were in his shoes? These types of questions will require your students to think deeply about the material and come up with meaningful answers.
Get Creative With Projects
Projects are a great way to get creative with teaching The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora! Have your students create a timeline depicting key events from the book, design a poster advertising Arturo’s restaurant, or write a persuasive essay urging local politicians to pass legislation protecting small businesses like Arturo’s from being taken over by big corporations. You can also assign groups or individual presentations where each student has to act out a scene from the book or research one of its characters – this will not only reinforce what was read but also provide an opportunity for public speaking practice!
Create an Authentic Experience
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora may be fiction, but it reflects the reality of many young people today. To create an authentic experience for your students while reading the book, consider connecting them with members of their local community who share similar experiences or interests as Arturo and his friends. Invite guest speakers into your classroom or take a field trip to visit a small business in your area so that students can draw real-world connections between what they read and the world around them.
Focus on Community Building
In The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, community is central to the story. As such, it’s important to pay special attention to building a sense of belonging among your students while teaching this novel. Create opportunities for students to share their thoughts and reflect on their own experiences related to the themes in the book. Encourage collaboration through group projects or discussions that emphasize understanding and empathy for each other’s perspectives.
Integrate Creative Writing Activities
Creative writing activities are an excellent way for your students to explore their own personal relationships with The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. Ask them to write from one character’s point of view, create a dialogue between two characters, or respond to prompts like “If I had been in Arturo’s shoes…” Encourage them to use vivid language and descriptive imagery when possible and give them opportunities to share their writing with each other. It’s important for students not only recognize how this story applies to them personally but also have an outlet for expressing those thoughts and feelings through creative writing activities.
Exploring Characters Through Writing
The characters in The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora are incredibly well-developed and unique. Use these characters as a springboard for writing prompts that help students explore their own feelings about different topics such as friendship, family, and community. Ask students to write about how the characters in the book handle certain situations or how they might handle them differently. This will encourage students to think critically about their own lives and experiences while also deepening their understanding of the novel’s themes.

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Focus On Authentic Learning
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora can be used to introduce topics such as urban planning, gentrification, and community activism in an engaging way that encourages authentic learning. Have students research real-world examples of gentrification or discuss how urban planning affects people’s lives. These activities can help put what they have read into perspective while also getting them thinking outside the box and considering different points of view on these issues.
Involve Students In Community Projects
One great way to get students engaged with The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is by having them take part in a relevant community project related to the book’s themes. For example, if your school is located near a gentrifying neighborhood, have students take part in a clean-up day or organize a fundraiser for residents affected by rising costs associated with gentrification. These types of projects can help bring home many of the lessons learned from reading the novel and show students how they can make meaningful change in their own communities.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is an inspiring novel that encourages readers (students) to stand up for what they believe in and fight for justice even when faced with daunting odds. By incorporating current events, promoting critical thinking through discussion questions, and getting creative with projects you can ensure that your students stay engaged while learning valuable lessons from this book. Ultimately, these activities will help bring this story alive in your classroom and make it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved!
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