Citing Text Evidence

Objective

Students will be able to:

• Read and comprehend a culturally rich informational text on Día de los Muertos.
• Identify and cite specific textual evidence to support answers and inferences.
• Integrate quotes and paraphrases to answer comprehension questions accurately.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

• RI.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• RI.6.2: Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
• RI.6.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.

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Materials

• Reading passage: "Día de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life" (provided below)
• Worksheet: "Citing Evidence - Día de los Muertos" (provided below)
• Pencils, highlighters

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Time Breakdown

Time	Activity
5 min	Warm-up & Introduction to the Topic
15 min	Reading passage - Silent reading + guided read
15 min	Worksheet - Citing evidence questions
5 min	Review & Closing discussion

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Procedure

1. Warm-up & Introduction (5 min)

• Begin with a brief discussion prompting students to share what they know about Día de los Muertos to activate background knowledge.
• Introduce the objective: “Today, we will learn about Día de los Muertos by reading an informational text and practicing how to cite evidence from the text to support our answers.”
• Explain the importance of citing evidence: "We need proof from the text to back up our ideas, like detectives finding clues."

2. Reading Passage (15 min)

• Distribute copies of the passage “Día de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life.”
• Students will read silently for 5 minutes, highlighting any unfamiliar words or interesting facts.
• Next, conduct a guided read aloud (teacher reads while students follow). Pause after each paragraph and ask comprehension check questions focused on key details and vocabulary.
• Discuss any tricky words and their meanings using context clues.

3. Worksheet Activity (15 min)

• Hand out the "Citing Evidence - Día de los Muertos" worksheet.
• Students answer each question using complete sentences, citing specific sentences, phrases, or words from the passage as evidence.
• Circulate and provide individual support, prompting students to refer back to the text if needed.

4. Review & Closing (5 min)

• Invite several students to share their answers aloud, explicitly saying where they found their evidence in the text.
• Recap the lesson’s skill: citing evidence helps us be careful readers and stronger writers.
• Remind students to practice this skill in all their subjects.

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Reading Passage: Día de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It is not a sad occasion, but a festive time to remember and honor family members and friends who have passed away. People believe that during these days, the spirits of the dead return to visit the living.

Families build colorful altars in their homes decorated with candles, marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and photos of their loved ones. These altars often include the favorite foods and drinks of the departed, as a way to welcome them back. The marigold flower, known as "cempasúchil," is very important because its strong scent is believed to guide the spirits home.

On these days, people also visit cemeteries to clean graves and celebrate together with music, dancing, and sharing stories. This holiday combines both indigenous practices and Catholic traditions, reflecting Mexico’s rich cultural history.

Día de los Muertos encourages people to remember that death is a natural part of life and that it’s important to celebrate the memories of those we love.

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Worksheet: Citing Evidence – Día de los Muertos

Name: _____________________ Date: _______________

Read the passage carefully. Use evidence from the text to answer the following questions. Write your answers in complete sentences.

1. What is the main purpose of Día de los Muertos?

   • Use a sentence or phrase from the passage to support your answer.

2. How do families prepare to welcome the spirits of their loved ones?

   • Cite at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

3. Why is the marigold flower important in the celebration?

   • Find and write the specific part of the text that explains this.

4. Describe two activities families do on Día de los Muertos.

   • Use exact words from the text.

5. What does Día de los Muertos teach people about death?

   • Include a direct quote or phrase from the reading.

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Differentiation and Extensions

• For students who need additional support: Allow paired reading or reading aloud together. Scaffold questions by giving sentence starters like “The passage says...” or “It explains that...”.
• For advanced students: Challenge them to write their own short paragraph summarizing the passage using three pieces of text evidence.
• Extension: Use art supplies to create a small paper altar with drawings symbolizing Día de los Muertos items from the text.

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Assessment

• Review worksheet responses to check for accurate citing of textual evidence and comprehension.
• Observe participation in discussion and ability to verbally identify evidence.
• Optional exit ticket: Write one thing you learned about Día de los Muertos and underline a sentence from the passage that helped you learn it.

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This lesson empowers students to practice a critical ELA skill—citing evidence—within a meaningful cultural context aligned with CCSS standards.