How to Create a Newspaper Ad for a Character in "Mango Street"

Students produce a newspaper advertisement to create the home Esperenza imagined.

"The House on Mango Street" is the story of Esperenza, a Mexican American 12-year-old girl who moves into the family's first house on Mango Street. The house and neighborhood turn out much different than Esperenza imagined. She arrives to find a crowded neighborhood with run-down homes. Esperanza vows to one day leave Mango Street and move into a house of her own. This newspaper activity requires students to create an advertisement for a home for sale that meets Esperenza's expectations.

Things You'll Need

• Sample advertisements for homes for sale
• Posterboards
• Illustration tools (pencils, markers, colored pencils, rulers, stencils, etc.)

Instructions

House for Sale on Mango Street

1. Direct students to recall the details from the story relating to Esperenza's image of the perfect home and neighborhood. Students write down what they recall. Require students to identify physical features of the house and neighborhood as well as cultural features that make up the environment. The teacher allows students to share their recollections and records the information on the board through the group collaboration.

2. Direct students to examine the notes listed on the board during the discussion and identify any additions that need to be made. The objective of the list is to completely identify Esperenza's perfect home. After recording additional ideas students contribute, tell students they will be using this information to create a house for sale on Mango Street, one that represents Esperenza's perfect home.

3. Distribute samples of newspaper real estate sections, homes for sale booklets, real estate advertisements and condominium brochures for students to explore the different directions they can go in creating their advertisements. A week before the day of the lesson, make phone calls to local real estate agents requesting brochures for the project. Most companies will gladly donate brochures for educational purposes.

4. Provide students with blank paper, newsprint or construction paper for drafting their advertisements before transferring their ideas to the poster boards. Distribute one poster board per student (or one for each group of students, if allowing for group work) during this drafting time along with illustration tools for the students to use.

5. Display students' poster board advertisements across the front of the room for all students to view. Use this time as an opportunity for students to self-assess their work by requiring students to create a check list of text features such as lettering, illustrations, captions, borders, headings and subheadings.

Tips & Warnings

• Project outcomes improve if students are allowed to work in pairs since it allows students to share and expand on creative ideas. Also, this project fits well into social studies, world languages and technology. Teachers can choose to emphasize cultural explorations. Consider collaborating with the social studies and world language departments for information on current curriculum cultural objectives. Researching culture on the Internet incorporates technology skills application.

• Avoid identifying negative aspects of students' final products. Instead, present constructive criticism throughout the process of completing the project. This will provide students with guidance, without the teacher taking a direct role in the projects' completion. Teacher as guide, motivator and mentor serves students with the optimal learning circumstances in activities that require creating and evaluating their own work.

References

• Wells Fargo Center of The Arts; The House on Mango Street, Teacher's Guide.
• Sparknotes; House On Mango Street.