The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi tells the story of Unhei, a young girl who moves from Korea to the United States. As she begins school in her new country, Unhei quickly notices many differences between her experience in Korea and her new environment, one of the most personal being how her name is perceived. Because her Korean name is unfamiliar to her classmates and difficult for them to pronounce, Unhei considers choosing a new, more “American” name to help her fit in.

To support her, the students in her class begin placing name suggestions in a jar, "The Name Jar", as a way to help her decide on a new name. However, with the help of a kind classmate named Joey, Unhei begins to reflect on the importance of her identity and cultural heritage. As the story progresses, she gains the confidence to embrace her name and proudly teaches her peers how to pronounce it.

This story beautifully illustrates themes of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance. Through Unhei’s journey, readers are reminded of the power of staying true to oneself and the importance of respecting others’ names, backgrounds, and cultures.

As a group, we chose The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi because it provides meaningful representation for multilingual learners, particularly those who have immigrated from other countries. This story creates space for students who may feel out of place or different from their peers to see themselves reflected in literature in a positive and affirming way.

Multilingual learners often face unique challenges in navigating a new language, culture, and school environment. The Name Jar addresses these experiences through the main character’s journey of self-acceptance and pride in her name and heritage. The story emphasizes the importance of loving one’s identity and remaining connected to one’s cultural roots—even when those differences set them apart.

We believe this book is an essential addition to the classroom library because it fosters a sense of belonging and validation for students with similar lived experiences. Including stories like The Name Jar not only supports multilingual learners but also encourages all students to develop empathy, respect, and appreciation for diverse backgrounds. This book serves as a simple yet powerful tool in creating an inclusive classroom community.

1. Class Discussion – “What’s in a Name?”
   Begin with a class discussion about names. Do a turn and talk and have students discuss questions one at a time. After each question have  them turn and talk and have  one or two students share to the whole class.
   Examples: 

   • What does your name mean to you?

   • Do you know why you were given your name?

   • Do you know anyone whose name has special memories or history associated with it?

   • Can names have cultural or family significance?

As students share, write their responses on a poster that will be later hung in the room.

After this do a brainstorm activity:
Pass out index cards and have each student write their name and draw something that represents them (a hobby, favorite color, family symbol, etc.). These will be revisited at the end of the project to see how their understanding of their name and identity may have evolved.

Interactive Read-Aloud – The Name Jar
Read The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi aloud to the class. Plan to pause at key moments to check for understanding and guide discussion.

Guided Turn and Talks:
Pause at the following points in the book and use these discussion prompts:

• When Unhei thinks about choosing a new name, ask:
  How do you think Unhei is feeling right now? Why?
  
  

• When the class starts the name jar, ask:
  Why do you think her classmates made the jar? Was it helpful or not helpful?
  
  

• After Unhei shares her real name, ask:
  Why do you think she finally decided to keep her name? How does that show strength or confidence?
  
  

Have students turn and talk after each question, then select a few to share out. Keep the conversation respectful and focused on how names shape our identities.

Family Name Interview Assignment:
Explain to students that their homework will be to talk with someone in their family about their name. Provide a simple handout with these questions:

• Why was my name chosen for me?
  
  

• What does my name mean?
  
  

• Is there a story, tradition, or special meaning behind it?
  
  

For students who may not be able to gather this information from a family member, allow them to research their name’s meaning and origin using online tools or printed name dictionaries provided by the teacher.

Personal Name Story Writing:
Have students write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) sharing what they learned about their name. Encourage them to include any feelings or thoughts they have after reading The Name Jar—Did their perspective on their name change? What makes their name special to them now?

Name Celebration Gallery Walk:
Ask students to decorate their writing and attach it to the original index card from the beginning of the project. Display all name pieces around the room.
Invite students to walk around quietly and read each other’s stories. Give each student a few sticky notes to leave positive comments or kind words on at least three classmates’ work.