The Tequila Worm

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Many people engage in traditions unique to their culture. What is the purpose of tradition? How can traditions help shape identity? Do you think they restrict or promote personal growth?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to have concrete examples of well-known traditions to serve as a starting point for this discussion, like giving presents at Christmas or passing out candy at Halloween. Consider encouraging students to think about personal family traditions, too. The resources below could be used as pre- or post-discussion material.

• This article from Oregon Counseling explains the important role traditions play in our lives, from providing comfort and structure to making us happier and healthier.
• This 2-minute trailer provides a synopsis of the film Coco. This resource could be used to introduce the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture, The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity, and Food as Creating Cultural and Spiritual Connection.

2. A “coming-of-age” story focuses on the growth of the main character from childhood to adulthood. The Tequila Worm is one such story. What other coming-of-age stories do you know? What reoccurring themes or character tropes often appear in them?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to introduce this discussion by providing an example of a coming-of-age story first and explaining why it fits into this genre of literature. Some possible titles include The Wizard of Oz, To Kill a Mockingbird, Brown Girl Dreaming, The House on Mango Street, The Hate U Give, and The Poet X.

• This article by TCK Publishing explains the difference between Bildungsroman novels and the coming-of-age genre (with examples) and explores the four common stages that a protagonist usually experiences in this journey of personal growth.

Short Activity

What do you know about Mexican American traditions? How are these traditions celebrated? For this activity, students will form small groups and research one of the following topics: Día de los Muertos, Easter, or Christmas. In their groups, students will research how Mexican Americans celebrate these holidays. Consider the following questions as you conduct your research:

• Are there any rituals that occur on this holiday? If so, what are they?
• What is the purpose of this holiday? When is it celebrated?
• What foods are traditionally eaten or prepared?
• Who is involved in this tradition? How does the holiday impact the community?

Elect a leader to report the group’s findings to the class; then, compare and contrast the different rituals, purposes, traditions, and foods between holidays. What are some of the similarities and differences between them?

Teaching Suggestion: For large classes, it might be helpful to assign each group a specific research question instead of an entire holiday to avoid repetition. For example, if several groups are assigned Día de los Muertos, one group could research the rituals, another group could research the purpose of the holiday, and so on. The resources below may serve as a helpful starting point for groups assigned those topics. This activity connects to the themes of The Importance of Tradition and Culture, The Community’s Role in Encouraging Growth and Shaping Identity, and Food as Creating Cultural and Spiritual Connection.

• This article from Mexperience provides information about the history and rituals of Día de los Muertos.
• This article from Folklife explains the Texas-specific tradition of making cascarones for Easter.
• This article from Texas Monthly discusses Mexican American Christmas traditions.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What holidays does your family celebrate? What traditions, rituals, and foods do you associate with these days? How do celebrations help shape your identity?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be helpful to remind students that traditions do not have to be tied to a specific holiday. For example, some families go camping every summer, while other families celebrate strong report cards or have game nights on Fridays.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students that struggle with writing, it might be helpful to have a class discussion about the personal connection prompt before attempting a written response. Advanced students may benefit from an additional activity in which they create a collage or visual representation of the holidays they celebrate and the traditions they practice with their families.