Tiger Tracks Worksheet Day 1: Poem & Vocab
Tiger Tracks
Unit: Stitching Freedom • Theme: Restriction & Liberty
Name:
Date:
ELP:
Aunt Jennifer's Tigers (Stanza 1)
By Adrienne Rich • Read along as a class, then reread with a partner.
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Partner Read Support
Step 1: Student A reads a line. Student B translates key words.
Step 2: Use your fingers to act out how a tiger would prance.
Word Bank / Glosario
prance verb / verbo
To walk with proud, high steps.
ES: Saltar / Brincar con orgullo
topaz noun / sustantivo
A bright yellow-orange gemstone.
ES: Topacio (gema amarilla)
denizen noun / sustantivo
A resident or native of a place.
ES: Habitante / Residente
chivalric adj / adjetivo
Brave, polite, and honorable.
ES: Caballeroso / Valiente
💡 Cognate Alert: topaz/topacio; chivalric/caballeroso. Use your L1!
Notice & Wonder Organizer
What do you NOTICE? / ¿Qué notas?
Sentence Starter:
I notice that Aunt Jennifer's tigers are _________
__________________________________________
What do you WONDER? / ¿Qué te preguntas?
Sentence Starter:
I wonder if the tigers ________________________
__________________________________________
Day 1 Exit Ticket: Tone & Feeling
Independiente
Write down one word from Stanza 1 that shows the power of the tigers, and write one sentence explaining why.
1. Power Word / Palabra de poder
2. Sentence / Oración
This word shows power because...
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL Page 1
Tiger Tracks Slides Day 1 Instruction
Tiger Tracks: Unveiling Stanza 1
Exploring freedom, restriction, and imagery in Adrienne Rich's "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers".
Ms. Reynoso • LPMS ESL Group
WIDA Levels 2-4 Support
Setting the Scene: Aunt Jennifer's Needlework
SENSORY EXPLORATION
The Tapestry (Screen)
Aunt Jennifer is sewing / embroidering tigers on a green wool background using orange thread.
The Green World
Bright, wild jungles where tigers live with absolute freedom, power, and courage.
Quick Think-Pair-Share:
Why does someone create art or sew things when they feel trapped? What can art do?
💡 Puedes responder en tu lengua materna o inglés. (You can answer in Spanish or English.)
Stitching Freedom • Day 1 Slide 2
Word Spotlight: Stanza 1
VOCABULARY & COGNATES
Prance
prance
To walk proudly with high, confident steps.
Spanish Cognate/Translation: Saltar / Moverse orgulloso
Topaz
topaz
A valuable, bright yellow-orange gemstone.
Spanish Cognate/Translation: El Topacio (Gema)
Denizen
denizen
A resident, dweller, or native of a place.
Spanish Cognate/Translation: Habitante / Residente
Chivalric
chivalric
Brave, honorable, polite, like a brave knight.
Spanish Cognate/Translation: Caballeroso / Valiente
Stitching Freedom • Day 1 Slide 3
Notice & Wonder Strategy
PARTNER WORK
1
Notice (Notar)
What physical details do you see in the poem's description of the tigers?
Sentence Frames:
"I notice that Aunt Jennifer's tigers are..."
(Yo noto que los tigres de la tía Jennifer son...)
2
Wonder (Preguntar)
What questions do you have about Aunt Jennifer or these tigers?
Sentence Frames:
"I wonder why the tigers do not fear..."
(Me pregunto por qué los tigres no temen a...)
Stitching Freedom • Day 1 Slide 4
Unlocking Symbols Worksheet Day 2: Symbols
Unlocking Symbols
Unit: Stitching Freedom • Theme: Poetic Representation
Name:
Date:
ELP:
Aunt Jennifer's Tigers (Stanza 2)
Notice the contrast of the needle and the ring
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
What is a Symbol?
A physical object that represents an abstract idea .
Un objeto físico que representa una idea abstracta.
Symbol Mapping Chart / Mapa de Símbolos
💍 Uncle's Wedding Band Object 1
How is it described? "Massive weight... sits heavily."
🔒
RESTRICCION / BURDEN
Complete Analysis:
The wedding ring symbolizes ___________
because _________________________________
🐅 The Embroidered Tigers Object 2
How are they described? "Do not fear... prance... proud."
🌴
LIBERTAD / COURAGE
Complete Analysis:
The tigers symbolize _________________
because _________________________________
💡 Word Options / Vocabulario de ayuda:
burden (carga) freedom (libertad) control (control) courage (valor)
Partner Oral Practice / Práctica Oral
Talk-Pair-Share
Turn to your partner. Use the academic sentence frame below to explain one of the symbols. Listen carefully and check off your partner's boxes.
"The [wedding ring / tiger] symbolizes [burden / freedom] because..."
Peer Evaluation Check:
Used a target word
Gave a clear reason
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL Page 2
Unlocking Symbols Slides Day 2 Instruction
Unlocking Symbols: Ring & Tigers
Learning how physical objects in literature represent deep feelings, restriction, and hidden power.
Ms. Reynoso • LPMS ESL Group
WIDA Levels 2-4 Support
What is a Symbol? / ¿Qué es un Símbolo?
LITERARY CONCEPTS
💍
Physical Object
Something you can touch, see, or hold in your hand.
(Objeto físico que puedes tocar o ver)
🔒
Abstract Idea
A feeling, rule, or concept you cannot touch.
(Una idea o sentimiento abstracto)
💡 Example: A school bell is physical, but it represents the abstract idea of "time to change classes."
Let's Map It Together: Ring vs. Tigers
GUIDED WORK
💍 Uncle's Wedding Ring
Stanza 2
"The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band sits heavily..."
Burden (Carga) No Freedom Rules
🐅 The Embroidered Tigers
Stanza 1
"They do not fear the men... they pace in chivalric certainty."
Freedom (Libertad) Power No Fear
Stitching Freedom • Day 2 Slide 3
Oral Rehearsal: Explain a Symbol!
PARTNER REHEARSAL
🗣️ Oral Rehearsal Sentence Frame:
"The [wedding ring / tiger] symbolizes [burden / freedom] because..."
Option A: The Ring
"...because it represents Uncle's control over Aunt Jennifer."
Option B: The Tigers
"...because they are bold, brave, and run without restrictions."
Stitching Freedom • Day 2 Slide 4
Stitched Shadows Worksheet Day 3: Juxtaposition
Stitched Shadows
Unit: Stitching Freedom • Theme: Juxtaposition & Contrast
Name:
Date:
ELP:
Aunt Jennifer's Tigers (Stanza 3)
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
Juxtaposition
Placing two opposite things together to show a powerful difference.
Yustaposición: Poner opuestos juntos para mostrar diferencias.
Juxtaposition Comparison Organizer
Poem vs. Reality
👩 Aunt Jennifer's Life Restricted
1. How do her hands look / feel?
Her hands are
2. What controls or "masters" her?
She is mastered by
🐅 Her Tigers' Life Free
1. How do the tigers walk / move?
They move in a way.
2. Do they fear any men or rules?
They are
💡 Tone Words / Palabras de Tono:
terrified (aterrada) mastered (dominada) proud (orgullosos) unafraid (sin miedo)
Journal Quick-Write / Escritura Rápida
Formative assessment
Write a short synthesis explaining how Aunt Jennifer's daily life contrasts with her art. Use at least two target words (mastered, free, weak, powerful ).
In her daily life, Aunt Jennifer feels ______________________, but her art is
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL Page 3
Stitched Shadows Slides Day 3 Instruction
Stitched Shadows: Juxtaposition
Analyzing how Aunt Jennifer's physical state of fear contrasts with the fearless power of her art.
Ms. Reynoso • LPMS ESL Group
WIDA Levels 2-4 Support
What is Juxtaposition? / ¿Qué es la Yustaposición?
LITERARY TOOL
⛓️
The Caged Body
Aunt Jennifer is restricted, mastered, and afraid in her marriage.
🐆
The Wild Spirit
The embroidered tigers are proud, pacing, and completely free .
💡 Juxtaposition puts these two opposites side-by-side to highlight the tragedy of Aunt Jennifer's life.
Analyzing Stanza 3 Contrasts
CLOSE READING
Aunt's Reality
"terrified hands... mastered by ordeals"
Her physical self is trapped and broken, even after death. The wedding ring represents permanent restriction.
Art's Reality
"proud and unafraid"
Her artwork represents her true internal spirit. It lives on, prancing and completely free of Uncle's power.
Stitching Freedom • Day 3 Slide 3
Collaborative Group Discussion
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
Discussion Prompt:
"How does Aunt Jennifer's needlework reveal a secret power she didn't have in her daily life?"
💡 Goal: Use these target words in your answers:
mastered free powerful
Stitching Freedom • Day 3 Slide 4
Behind Bars Worksheet Day 4: Real-World Justice
Behind Bars
Unit: Stitching Freedom • Theme: Systemic Restriction & Data
Name:
Date:
ELP:
Systemic Disparities: The U.S. Justice System
Just like Aunt Jennifer is trapped by rules in her marriage, many people face systemic restrictions in the real world. In the United States, the criminal justice system (police, courts, prisons) has large disparities . A disparity means a major difference that is unfair. Research shows that systemic bias (unfair treatment built into laws and rules) causes Black and Hispanic Americans to be arrested and imprisoned at much higher rates than White Americans.
Disparity / Disparidad: A large, unfair inequality or difference.
Systemic Bias / Sesgo Sistémico: Unfair treatment in rules/laws.
Reading the Data: Who is in Prison?
U.S. Demographics vs. Incarceration
White Americans 60% of US Pop • 30% of Prison Pop
US Pop:
60%
In Prison:
30%
Black Americans 12% of US Pop • 33% of Prison Pop (3x higher!)
US Pop:
12%
In Prison:
33%
Data Interpretation Questions
1. Look at Black Americans. Compare their share of the total US population (12%) to their share of the prison population (33%). What do you notice?
The data shows that Black Americans make up only 12% of the US population, but they
make up _______________ % of the prison population. This is a massive disparity.
2. Why is this data an example of systemic restriction ?
This data represents systemic restriction because _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Partner Data-Talk / Análisis de Datos
Speaking Activity
Present your findings to your partner. Use these data-specific sentence frames. Try to use the word disparity.
Frame 1: Notice
"The data shows that..."
(Los datos muestran que...)
Frame 2: Reflection
"I was surprised that..."
(Me sorprendió que...)
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL Page 4
Behind Bars Slides Day 4 Instruction
Behind Bars: Systemic Disparities
Connecting personal restriction in literature to real-world structural restrictions in the U.S. Criminal Justice System.
Ms. Reynoso • LPMS ESL Group
WIDA Levels 2-4 Support
Our Critical Vocabulary
SOCIAL JUSTICE TERMS
Disparity (Disparidad)
Disparity
A major, unfair difference or inequality between two groups.
(Una diferencia grande y sumamente injusta)
Systemic Bias (Sesgo)
Systemic Bias
Unfair treatment that is built directly into laws, systems, and rules .
(Injusticia incorporada en las leyes y reglas)
💡 Connect: Aunt Jennifer's restrictions were in her house. Systemic restrictions are in society's laws.
U.S. Population vs. Prison Population
DATA DEEP DIVE
White Population 60% of US • 30% of Prisons
US Pop:
60%
Prison:
30%
Black Population 12% of US • 33% of Prisons
US Pop:
12%
Prison:
33%
Stitching Freedom • Day 4 Slide 3
Data-Talk Speaking Prompt
PARTNER DATA TALK
🗣️ Talk with your partner about the bars:
Sentence Frame 1:
"The data shows that Black Americans are..."
(Los datos muestran que los estadounidenses negros son...)
Sentence Frame 2:
"I was surprised that the disparity was..."
(Me sorprendió que la disparidad fuera...)
Stitching Freedom • Day 4 Slide 4
Justice Data Task Cards Scaffolded Resource
Justice Data Task Cards
Differentiated for WIDA Level 3 and below • Cut out these cards for partner or small group work.
📊 Card 1: Read Numbers WIDA Support
Find the percentage (%) of Black Americans in the US compared to prison.
Category US Pop % Prison %
Black Americans 12% 33%
Write & Say:
"Black Americans are ____% of the U.S., but they are ____% of the prison population."
ES: (Los afroamericanos son el __% de EE.UU., pero el __% de la prisión.)
⚖️ Card 2: Disparity WIDA Support
A disparity means a large, unfair difference. Why is the data a disparity?
Disparity (disparidad): 12% vs. 33% is NOT equal. It is an unfair difference.
Write & Say:
"There is a big disparity because the percentages are ______________."
[not equal / unfair / huge]
📚 Card 3: Word Bank WIDA Support
Match the social justice word with its Spanish helper.
systemic bias ➡️ sesgo del sistema (injusticia)
reform ➡️ reforma (mejorar las reglas)
restriction ➡️ restricción (límites/barreras)
"We need prison reform to fix the systemic bias."
🔗 Card 4: Poem & Life WIDA Support
How is a prison cell like Aunt Jennifer's marriage?
Both Aunt Jennifer and incarcerated individuals experience boundaries, rules, and locks .
Write & Say:
"A prison and her marriage are both examples of ____________________________."
[restriction / cages / rules]
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL • Day 4 Scaffold Cut Sheet
Uncaged Thoughts Worksheet Day 5: Synthesis
Uncaged Thoughts
Unit: Stitching Freedom • Theme: Synthesis & Choice Board
Name:
Date:
ELP:
Thematic Connections: Mapping Restriction vs. Freedom
🔒 Restriction (Restricción)
Poetry: Aunt Jennifer's ring / marriage
Society: Systemic bias / prison bars
VERSUS
🐅 Freedom (Libertad)
Poetry: Embroidered tigers / prancing
Society: Justice reform / expression
Multimodal Synthesis Choice Board / Menú de Opciones
Select Option A OR Option B
✍️ Option A: Write Writing Track
Explain how Aunt Jennifer's tigers and real-world justice reform both represent the fight for freedom.
Both the tigers and justice reform show
the search for freedom. The tigers are
______________________________________
while justice reform seeks _________________
______________________________________
🎨 Option B: Sketch Visual Track
Draw a custom visual symbol representing freedom or justice, and label its parts in Spanish or English.
[ Draw your symbol of freedom here ]
This symbol represents freedom because ______________________________.
💡 Word Bank Assists:
reforma (reform) inequidad (inequality) libertad (freedom)
Stitching Freedom Unit • Grade 5/6 Pull-Out ESL Page 5
Uncaged Thoughts Slides Day 5 Synthesis
Uncaged Thoughts: Unit Synthesis
Bringing together poetry, systemic justice data, and creative self-expression in our final unit discussion.
Ms. Reynoso • LPMS ESL Group
WIDA Levels 2-4 Support
Socratic Warm-up / Círculo Socrático
SOCRATIC SEMINAR
🕊️
What is freedom?
How do we know when someone is truly free? Is it physical, or in the mind?
(¿Qué es la libertad? ¿Es física o mental?)
🗝️
Who is uncaged?
Are Aunt Jennifer's tigers more free than her? Who is free in our society?
(¿Quién está libre de jaulas en la sociedad?)
🗣️ Support: You may speak in Spanish, English, or mix both. Every voice matters!
Our Class Concept Map
THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
💍
Personal Restriction
Aunt Jennifer's wedding band / marriage
⛓️
Structural Restriction
Systemic bias, police arrest rates, and prisons
🐅
Artistic Expression
Prancing tigers who are proud and unafraid
⚖️
Social Reform
Fighting systemic bias to create true fairness
Stitching Freedom • Day 5 Slide 3
Your Synthesis Choice Board
INDEPENDENT WORK
✍️ Option A: Write
Writing Path
Write a short synthesis paragraph explaining how her tigers and real-world justice reform are both symbols of hope. Use our sentence starters!
🎨 Option B: Sketch
Visual Path
Design your own personal symbol of freedom or justice. Label its elements in Spanish or English, and write one sentence explaining it.
Stitching Freedom • Day 5 Slide 4
