Why are names important?

After using My Name Is Maria Isabel as a read aloud for my students, I realized that the book generated a lot of discussion about names and what they mean.  Students talked with each other about where their names came from, or what their significance is.  This unit gives students opportunities to reflect on their identity as individuals with respect to their name and think about names in a broader context.  I have carefully chosen literature for this unit to help students think critically about names and respecting how names are used in cultures different than their own.

Essential Questions:

Why is your name important to you, and what does your name mean to you?
What is similar or different about names across cultures?
How can we be respectful of peoples' names and what they mean in their culture?