The Arrival

by Shaun Tan

 

Part I

 

Tan, S. (2007) The arrival. South Melbourne: Lothian Books.

 

Genre: Graphic Novel, Multicultural

 

Grade Level: 4th-8th

 

Part II

 

This is my first graphic novel and I was very pleased to have picked it. Looking through the novel I could tell the man was leaving his family, looking for a better life to provide for his family, and entering a new world that was so different than what he was used to. The food, people, weird animals/creatures, customs, and basically, all the surroundings. I was clear that this novel portrayed the life of an immigrant and the differences from home to a new territory. I personally loved the attention he gave his family portrait. It was a great way to recap the acts as a symbol of why he was doing what he was doing. Many families have had to separate for financial reasons because they need to find a better life and I was happy to see that the story made it clear he was doing it for his family.

 

 

 

Part III

 

I could not have chosen a better graphic novel. I was very interested in this blog because it was very new to me. I feel the novel tells the same story to every reader, but it is interpreted differently because there are no words. This book could be viewed at any age, but the full understanding of it wouldn't be until forth grade and up, in my opinion. The book is broken down into to six acts, the pictures are sketched and sepia color, and each picture vividly explains what is going on. This is obviously a fiction graphic novel, but it historically portrays the life of an immigrant and the search for a new country for himself and family.

 

Part IV

 

Grade: 4th

 

Objective:

• Introduce students to the idea and act of immigration through the graphic novel, The Arrival.
• In journals, have students personally identify with The Arrival discussing their opinions of immigration and then collaborate ideas.
• Reflect their findings, opinions, and facts of The Arrival in a short skit.

Discussion Questions:

1. How did The Arrival show the act of immigration through the pictures?
2. Did you know that the theme was based on the new life through immigration?
3. How did the pictures give it away?
4. What obstacles did the character face in the new land?

Lesson Sketch:

1. Teacher will define immigration; Students will read The Arrival
2. Students will write their ideas, opinions, and facts from The Arrival in their journal.
3. Students will collaborate as a class with the teacher about their journal entries.
4. Students will be separated into six groups (one group per act) and will create a skit that reflects The Arrival.

 

CA State Standards:

 

Lesson based on introduction to:

 

4.4.3 Discuss immigration and migration to California between 1850 and 1900, including the diverse composition of those who came; the countries of origin and their relative locations; and conflicts and accords among the diverse groups (e.g., the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act).
4.4.3 Describe rapid American immigration, internal migration, settlement, and the growth of towns and cities (e.g., Los Angeles).

Outside Sources:
https://www.educationworld.com/a_sites/sites053.shtml- List of websites for teaching immigration
http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html- Shaun Tan himself.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/newamericans.html - Stories of American Immigration