Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Many people engage in traditions unique to their culture. What is the purpose of tradition? How can traditions help shape identity? Do you think they restrict or promote personal growth?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to have concrete examples of well-known traditions to serve as a starting point for this discussion, like giving presents at Christmas or passing out candy at Halloween. Consider encouraging students to think about personal family traditions, too. The resources below could be used as pre- or post-discussion material.

• This article from Oregon Counseling explains the important role traditions play in our lives, from providing comfort and structure to making us happier and healthier.
• This 2-minute trailer provides a synopsis of the film Coco. This resource could be used to introduce the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture, The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity, and Food as Creating Cultural and Spiritual Connection.

2. A “coming-of-age” story focuses on the growth of the main character from childhood to adulthood.