Overview


Palermo, located in Sicily, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, has a long history as a meeting place of many cultures. Define multiculturalism and explore how using different metaphors to describe it affects their understanding of diversity.

The following activities and abridged text build off “Palermo’s Palimpsest Roads,” written by Ana M. Carreño Leyva and photographed by Richard Doughty.

Warm up


Summary: Complete this activity to define a new word and hypothesize the main idea of the article. Read captions for hints about the main idea.

If you only have 15 minutes …


Summary: Deepen your understanding of the term multiculturalism, first by breaking the word down into its component parts, then by looking up its definition. Finally, look for traits and examples of multiculturalism in the article.

Common Core Standard(s) Met:

CCRA.L.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.

RI9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

If you only have 30 minutes …


Summary: Explore different metaphors for multiculturalism and analyze how each affects your understanding of the concept.

Common Core Standard(s) Met:

CCRA.R.2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
 
L.9-10.5A Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
 
RI.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

Visual Analysis


Summary: Develop a travel brochure for Palermo to feature the city’s multicultural highlights.

Common Core Standard(s) Met:

CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.