Guidance Resources
Explore how to use 'Unshattered' to connect with your students effectively.
Teaching Unshattered: A Guide for Educators
Stories help students make sense of the world — and themselves.
Unshattered is a powerful coming-of-age novel set in 1990s Senegal, exploring grief, resilience, and the tension between tradition and modern ambition. This guide offers educators the tools to explore these themes deeply with students and foster authentic, meaningful classroom conversations.
Curriculum-Aligned Lesson Plans
Designed to meet middle and high school standards, these lesson plans explore:
Resilience through adversity: How does Bakari cope with loss, and what can students learn from his journey?
Tradition vs. modernity: A critical look at cultural shifts in 1990s Senegal and their parallels in students’ own lives.
Identity and belonging: Activities that help students reflect on their own sense of self.
Each plan includes objectives, discussion prompts, extension activities, and assessment ideas—ready to use or adapt.
Discussion Guides
Spark deep, reflective conversations with questions like:
What does it mean to remain “unshattered”?
How do grief and loss shape Bakari’s identity?
In what ways does tradition both anchor and limit him?
What parallels can students draw between Bakari’s world and their own?
These guides work well for literature circles, journaling, and group dialogue.
Interactive & Creative Activities
Encourage students to engage with the story through hands-on, imaginative exercises:
Writing Prompts: Write a letter from Bakari to a lost loved one, or journal a day in his life post-loss.
Art Projects: Create a “resilience collage” inspired by symbols and moments in the book.
Role-play or Skits: Reenact key moments or invent new scenes exploring “what if” scenarios.
These activities build emotional literacy and critical empathy.
Virtual Classroom Visits
Invite the author for a virtual visit! I offer:
Live readings of Unshattered excerpts
Q&A sessions about the writing process, the book’s themes, or Senegalese culture
Guided conversations around grief, hope, and identity
Reach out to schedule a visit customized to your classroom's needs.
Ready to Get Started?
Download Lesson Plans, including Discussion Guide and Rubric
Let’s help students explore what it means to remain whole in a fractured world—through literature that speaks to the heart.
Get in Touch
We are here to help you navigate our book 'Unshattered' and provide guidance for your students.
Contact
author@drmawdofall.com
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