Teacher’s Guide
Dahling, If You Luv Me, Would You Please, Please Smile
by Rukhsana Khan
Knowledge:
- Explain why Zainab wants Lucky brand jeans. Do you think that even if she owned them things would be different for her at school?
- What job does Zainab’s teacher, Mr. Weiss, offer her to get to know her classmates better? Would you take that job? Why or why not
Comprehension
- Retell the story between Kevin and Jenny in your own words.
- Explain why Zainab doesn’t really like Premini. Are her feelings justified?
Application
- How could a girl learn from Jenny’s mistakes?
- Zainab is hesitant to tell a story from her own culture. What story’s could you tell from yours? Would you want to?
Synthesis
- How would you handle Layla if she were your sister?
- How would you feel if you were in Zainab’s situation at school? Would you remain friends with Jenny or not?
Analysis
- Compare Zainab and Layla. What qualities do they have in common, what is different?
- Investigate Zainab’s religion in further detail. Are there any similarities with that of your own?
Evaluation
- What was your favorite scene in the book? Why?
- Predict what these characters will be like after the book ends: Zainab, Jenny, Kevin, Premini, and Layla
Multiple Intelligence Projects for
Dahlin If You Luv Me, Would You Please, Please Smile
by Rukhsana Khan
Verbal/ Linguistic
Define the following terms in your own words: Zuhr, Quran, hadith, Paki, Islam, Allah, Muslim, Hindu
Logical/ Mathematical
While reading Dahling, graph the amount of pages you read during each of at least five sessions on five different days. Take notes, under the graph (can be a pie, bar, or line graph) as to why you think you got the results you did. Consider these elements: distractions, difficulty of text, hunger or other physical distractions, and tiredness.
Visual/ Spatial
On a large poster size paper, design one set for a scene of Zainab’s final play. Be sure to use color to represent the tone of the scene.
Body/ Kinesthetic
Act out a scene from the play of Jehangir as it is outlined in Chapter 21.
Musical/ Rhythmic
Find music that would accompany the play, and use it is as background set up for your scene.
Interpersonal
In a group of no more than five, decide what jobs need to be accomplished to make the play come to life. Be sure the work is divided equally, and make a contract as to who will do what. Turn it, signed by the members, into your teacher.
Intrapersonal
After the play is complete, write a journal discussing what you learned through the process of putting on this play. Compare your experience with that of Zainabs. Be sure to discuss whether you would like to pursue more opportunities in drama (or not) and why. Explain how you could have done better, and what parts actually were easier than you thought.
