Vocabulary
What does “rite of passage” mean?
Answer: A ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone’s life.
Who gives Martin the medicine bag?
Answer: His Grandpa.
What event is being shown in the documentary?
Answer: An Apache girl’s rite of passage into womanhood.
Which format tells a story with fictional characters?
Answer: A narrative.
What central idea do both stories share?
Answer: Rites of passage are important cultural traditions that mark growing up.
What is a “narrative”?
Answer: A story or account of connected events.
Why is Martin embarrassed at first?
Answer: He thinks his Grandpa looks old and poor compared to his friends’ expectations.
What are some challenges the girl faces?
Answer: Long ceremonies, dancing, and physical tests.
Which format uses real footage?
Answer: A documentary.
What pattern do we see across both stories?
Answer: Young people face challenges and responsibilities as they grow.
What is a “documentary”?
Answer: A nonfiction film or video that shows real events or people.
What is inside the medicine bag?
Answer: A sacred sage and a broken piece of iron.
Why is the ceremony important to the Apache people?
Answer: It connects them to tradition and community values.
What’s one advantage of a narrative?
Answer: It can explore thoughts and emotions more deeply.
How do both highlight family involvement?
Answer: Through elders guiding and passing down traditions.
Define “tradition.”
Answer: A custom or belief passed down through generations.
What does the medicine bag symbolize?
Answer: Family heritage, tradition, and responsibility.
How does the documentary show authenticity?
Answer: By using real footage, interviews, and actual events.
What’s one advantage of a documentary?
Answer: It shows real-life events and makes them feel authentic.
Why are rites of passage important for identity?
Answer: They help people understand their culture and role in the community.
What does “symbolism” mean?
Answer: Using objects, events, or actions to represent deeper meanings.
How does Martin change by the end of the story?
Answer: He grows to appreciate his Grandpa and accepts the responsibility of the medicine bag.
What role do the older men in the community play in the ceremony?
Answer: They build the tipi for the girls to stay in during the ceremony.
Which format did you connect with more, and why?
Answer: (Open-ended—student explains preference.)
Compare how each format (narrative vs. documentary) helps us understand culture.
Answer: Narrative shows emotions/characters, documentary shows real events and practices.