Afro-Cuban Jazz Homework Packet
Nonfiction: Main Idea & Historical Context
Machito and the Birth of Afro-Cuban Jazz
Weekly Review • Q2:4
Name:
Monday First Read & Preview
1. Prediction & Preview:
Look at the title and photo. What do you predict this passage will teach about how Afro-Cuban jazz was created?
2. Reading Timer:
Time how long it takes to read the text. Record your time:
Time: min sec
3. Story Details:
What musical instruments did Machito play and what styles did he sing while growing up in Havana, Cuba?
4. Key Milestone:
What was the name of the band that Machito and Mario Bauzá formed in 1940?
Tuesday Rhythm & Context
1. Musical Rhythm:
What is the clave, and why does the author describe it as the "heartbeat" of the song?
2. Metaphor & Meaning:
Why did Mario Bauzá say their music was like a "lemon meringue pie"?
3. Context Clues:
Read this sentence: "Trumpets and saxophones wailed over conga drums and maracas." What does wailed mean here?
a) Broke into pieces
b) Made high, expressive sounds
c) Stopped making noise
d) Whispered very quietly
4. Audience Reaction:
How did New York audiences react in dance halls when Machito played?
Wednesday Blending Traditions
1. Cause & Effect:
Cause: Musicians move to new cities and meet players from different backgrounds.
Effect:
2. Musical Innovation:
What made Bauzá's song "Tanga" special in the history of recorded music?
3. Vocabulary Check:
Read this sentence: "It also had improvised jazz solos that musicians made up on the spot." What does improvised mean?
a) Practiced for weeks
b) Created without planning
c) Copied from a record
d) Played very quietly
4. Famous Collaboration:
Which famous American trumpet player made the album featuring "Manteca" with Machito?
Thursday Spiral Review
1. Reading Timer (Re-read for Fluency):
Re-read the story and record your time:
Time: min sec
2. Vocabulary Match: Connect each word to its definition:
• blend
• develop
• improvise
• rhythm
• To create starting from nothing
• A repeating pattern of beats
• To mix together completely
• To make up music on the spot
3. Musician Qualities:
Besides his musical talent, what personality trait made audiences love Machito?
4. Short Response:
What is the main idea of the story "Machito and the Birth of Afro-Cuban Jazz"?
Read the passage daily to build fluency and comprehension. Page 1 of 2
Name:
Date:
Score: / 10
Weekly Reading Quiz • Q2:4
Machito and the Birth of Afro-Cuban Jazz
1. Where did Machito grow up before moving to the United States in 1937?
a) New York City, United States
b) Caracas, Venezuela
c) Havana, Cuba
d) Santiago, Chile
2. What conclusion can you draw from Machito and Mario Bauzá blending jazz with Cuban percussion?
a) They only enjoyed traditional American jazz melodies.
b) The band was innovative and created a fresh musical style.
c) They stopped using Cuban instruments in New York.
d) Machito preferred performing alone rather than in a band.
3. According to the text, what is the importance of the clave rhythm in their music?
a) It serves as the steady heartbeat of the song.
b) It is an improvised horn solo played at the end.
c) It is a dessert served during Harlem concerts.
d) It is a special award won by Cuban musicians.
4. As used in the first paragraph, what does the word develop mean?
"How do new styles of music develop? Sometimes, musicians move to new places."
a) Disappear suddenly without notice
b) Grow, form, or come into existence
c) Become quiet and hard to hear
d) Copy an older song exactly
5. Extended Response: Text Evidence & Analysis
How did Machito and his band help create and popularize Afro-Cuban jazz? Explain how they blended different musical traditions, instruments, and rhythms to inspire dancers and jazz fans. Use at least two specific examples from the text to support your explanation.
Weekly Reading Assessment • Afro-Cuban Jazz Unit Page 2 of 2
Mystery Man Homework Packet
Fiction: Plot Elements & Suspense
A Mystery Man [Nightmare on the Tracks, #1]
Weekly Review • Q2:5
Name:
Monday First Read & Preview
1. Prediction & Preview:
Look at the title and opening song about John Henry. What do you predict this mystery story will be about?
2. Reading Timer:
Time how long it takes to read the text. Record your time:
Time: min sec
3. Character Perspectives:
How does James feel about going to West Virginia compared to his sister Veronica?
4. Summer Plans:
What had James planned to do during his first week of summer vacation instead of traveling?
Tuesday Conflict & Detail
1. Sibling Conflict:
Why does Veronica's singing annoy James so much, and how does he try to block it out?
2. Character Complaints:
What chores and stories does James complain that Grandfather will make them do on the farm?
3. Context Clues:
Read this sentence: "Veronica seemed determined to annoy James till the moment he fell asleep." What does determined mean?
a) Angry and loud
b) Fully committed and focused
c) Nervous and afraid
d) Exhausted and sleepy
4. Sound Details:
How did Veronica keep the beat to the John Henry song during dinner?
Wednesday Rising Action & Mystery
1. Cause & Effect:
Cause: James drifts off to sleep muttering complaints under his breath.
Effect: What loud noise wakes him up in the middle of the night?
2. Sensory Descriptions:
Describe the stranger sitting in the chair next to James's bed (clothing, tools, actions):
3. Vocabulary Check:
Read this sentence: "He finally drifted off to sleep, muttering complaints to himself." What does muttering mean?
a) Shouting across the room
b) Speaking quietly to oneself
c) Singing cheerful lyrics
d) Writing notes in a diary
4. Plot Cliffhanger:
What terrifying action does the stranger take at the very end of the passage?
Thursday Spiral Review
1. Reading Timer (Re-read for Fluency):
Re-read the story and record your time:
Time: min sec
2. Vocabulary Match: Connect each word to its definition:
• manage
• mighty
• mutter
• suddenly
• Quick and without warning
