Lesson Plan : Making Connections and Drawing Insight

Teacher Name:
 M. I. Friedman
Grade:
 Grade 9-10
Subject:
 Language Arts

Topic:
 Connections and Insights
Content:
 Lesson is designed to help students use their visualization skills in order to make connections and draw insights, which will help them to understand the characters.
Goals:
 Aim: How do our visualization skills help us to gain insight into the characters in Monster? Outcomes: Students draw on their skills at forming images in their heads, to facilitate their understanding of the various characters in Monster.
Objectives:
 1. Students will be able to use their visualization skills in order to gain insight into the characters in the novel. 2. Students will be able to make connections to the text which will facilitate their insights and understanding of the characters.
Materials:
 1. Monster 2. "Connections: Images" chart 3. "Monster Plot" chart 4. Chart paper 5. Markers
Introduction:
 Independent Reading: 1. Instruct students to pay attention to the images that form in their heads, and to determine what these images tell them about the characters in their book. 2. Have students remain aware of different print styles used in their books,and to make note of why, they think, the author used the different print styles. Independent Reading Log: Distribute the weekly "Independent Reading Log/Double Entry Journal" handout for this week. Word Study Quiz: 1. Write the target words on the board: -apprehend -oath 2. Place a dictionary on each work table. 3. Have students work with their groups, to find the definition of each word. 4. Instruct the students to write one sentence for each word. 5. Make sure that students understand that they will receive two and half points for the definitions, and two and half points for correctly using the word in a sentence.
Development:
 Read-Aloud/Think-Aloud: 1. Ask one or two students to retell the events in the previous reading of Monster. 2. Read pp. 110 - 113 aloud. Assign students to read the camera directions, and other directions (only the lengthy ones), Steve, and Mr. Harmon. 3. Pause to model use of visualization. Convenient place to stop is at: -P. 110, "DISSOLVE TO:... outside of the table." Say that the description of teh setting/scene of the Visitor's Area in the Detention Center helps you to understand where Steve is and what it is like to have a visitor when you are a prisoner. 3. Point out to the students that visualizing, or creating images in our heads, helps us to understand the developing story. 4. Add the image from this reading to the "Connections: Images" chart, along with the insights/learning they engender. Classroom Discussion: 1. Remind students that they are to refer to their copies of Monster in forming their responses to the following questions: -Review how dialogue, gestures, and expressions also provide pictures of the characters. Have students find an example in today's reading that demonstrates this concept. What does the image show you? -What images show you what it similar and what is different about Osvaldo and Steve? -How does the introduction of Mr. Harmon affect the story? - What should be added the "Monster Plot" chart? 2. Add the suggested plot items to the "Monster Plot" chart.
Practice:
 Review the "Connections: Images" chart with the students. Point out the additions already made, in this lesson and the previous one.
Accommodations:
 Make specific assignments for the various members of the groups: -image finder -explainer -recorder -presenter
Checking For Understanding:
 Have presenter from groups share their group's work with the class.
Closure:
 Summation: Ask the students to recount how they have used their visualization skills to form pictures in their mind. Have them tell how these images have helped them to understand the characters they read about. Homework: 1. 30 minutes of sustained reading. 2. Complete "Double Entry Journal Homework" Log for today.
Evaluation:
 Group charts and presentations will demonstrate how well the students understood the use of visualization in understanding character.
Teacher Reflections:
 I will write 5 things that I could have done better and 5 things that worked out great!

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