This is the lesson to accompany the story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker and may include extra excerpts from songs and poems as comprehension questions and language development. The actual story in not included here; this lesson is for after reading the story. Created by Coleman’s Classroom.

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Everyday
Use

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Alice Walker
Don't wait around for other
people to be happy for you.
Any happiness you get
you've got to make yourself.

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The Basic Plot
When?
1927, 1949, 1960’s
Where?
American Countryside

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The Basic Plot
Who?
Mrs. Johnson, Maggie
Dee (Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo)
What?
Sister comes home for visit

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The Basic Plot
Why?
Recapture her roots
How?
Take keepsakes back to city

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How do the main characters feel
about each other?
How does Maggie feel about
Dee?
How does Dee feel about
Maggie?
How does Mrs. Johnson feel
about both girls?

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“Let Me Be Myself”
3 Doors Down

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Song Excerpt
I guess I just got lost
Being someone else
I tried to kill the pain
Nothing ever helped
I left myself behind
Somewhere along the way
Hoping to come back around
To find myself someday

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I'll never find my heart
Behind someone else
I'll never see the light of day
Living in this cell
It's time to make my way
Into the world I knew
Take back all of these times
That I gave in to you

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Lately I'm so tired of waiting for
you
To say that it's ok but tell me
Please, would you one time
Just let me be myself
So I can shine with my own
light
Let me be myself
Would you let me be myself?

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Who Would Sing This Song?

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Are the Johnson’s rich or poor?
Does Dee have money?
How do Dee and Maggie differ?
Why did Dee change her name?
Why is that ironic?

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The Butter Churn

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What is the butter churn used for?
Why is it important to Mrs.
Johnson?
What does Dee want it for?
Why is it important to her?
Did Mrs. Johnson want to give the
dasher to Dee?
Did she give it?

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The Quilts

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What are the quilts used for?
Why are they important to Mrs.
Johnson?
What does Dee want them for?
Why are they important to her?
Did Mrs. Johnson want to give
those quilts to Dee?
Did she give them?

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What did Dee do when she didn’t
get what she wanted?
How does the story end?
What is the main idea of the
story?

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For More Information
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