Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY 1: “The Meaning Behind a Name”

Research the meaning behind your name and reflect on how you think it relates to you as a person. Compare the names found in Concrete Rose and their meanings, and share your opinion as to whether names need a meaning.

• Interview family members about their names, the story behind your own name, and what names mean to your family or household.
• Reflect on your findings and craft your response by comparing the information you found to Maverick’s experiences with names in his life.

Teaching Suggestion: Share the meaning behind your own name, or why there isn’t a central meaning behind your name, to model the beginning of the activity for students.

Paired Text Extension:

“Give Your Daughters Difficult Names” by Assétou Xango — This link features a video of the poet reading her piece on the weight of a name and the Euro-centric perspective on names that sound different from the white norm.

• Focus on the epigraph at the beginning of the poem. Reflect on the meaning behind each line and what you think Shire means by his message.