--Please take out your theme notes page (the sheet with "THEME" in large letters at the top). We will read through the last bolded section ("Theme Statement") on the front page of the document together and fill in as many of the blanks as we can.
S. the C. (8-10 mins.)
--You should leave class today with...
- a deeper understanding of theme in literature, as evidenced by your ability to respond to the four focus questions/prompts below:
- What is a theme statement?
- How does a mere theme differ from a theme statement?
- How can a reader turn a theme into a theme statement?
- Write a meaningful and complex theme statement for P.D. Eastman's "The Best Nest".
- a clearer idea of how "The Lady, or the Tiger?" connects to real life, which might help you "zero in" on a meaningful and complex theme statement as we wrap up our work with the story.
- a refreshed outlook on your own life?
- a rough sense of what Frank R. Stockton is suggesting about one (or several?!) of the emergent themes of the "The Lady, or the Tiger?".
- In other words, you might leave class today with a rough theme statement in mind for the story.
End-of-Mini-Unit Assessment Writing Prompt:
Write a well-developed paragraph in which you support a meaningful and complex theme statement for Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" Use at least three pieces of strong textual evidence spanning the entire text, and be sure to tie back to your theme statement often.
Write a well-developed paragraph in which you support a meaningful and complex theme statement for Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" Use at least three pieces of strong textual evidence spanning the entire text, and be sure to tie back to your theme statement often.
--agenda/HW
Notetaking/Application Activity -- P.D. Eastman's "The Best Nest": Theme Statements and Strong and Thorough Textual Evidence (8-10 mins.)
--fill in blanks together in "Theme Statement" section of "THEME" notes page
--share sample theme statement about the theme word "power" written up on the front board and connect to my life experiences (e.g., high school basketball and the "Wheel" offense, teaching argumentative writing at the high school, etc.)
Application Activity -- Theme Clips/Life Philosophies (30-40 mins.)
--rationale/directions
--view the following clips/videos:
--Please pick up the "Theme Statement Comprehension Check" halfsheet from the front table.
Notetaking/Application Activity -- P.D. Eastman's "The Best Nest": Theme Statements and Strong and Thorough Textual Evidence (8-10 mins.)
--fill in blanks together in "Theme Statement" section of "THEME" notes page
--share sample theme statement about the theme word "power" written up on the front board and connect to my life experiences (e.g., high school basketball and the "Wheel" offense, teaching argumentative writing at the high school, etc.)
Application Activity -- Theme Clips/Life Philosophies (30-40 mins.)
--rationale/directions
- Today's clips relate most closely to the following themes:
- barbarism/savagery
- fairness/unfairness
- jealousy
- love
- power
--view the following clips/videos:
- The Worst Things That Happened in the Roman Colosseum (up to 2:08)
- Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19
- Dealing with Jealousy
- How is Power Divided in the United States Government
- How to Give and Receive Positive Karma
- Please pick up an index card from the front table and write your name at the top of the lined side.
- Pick one of the starred themes from the list on the front board. Then, based on your life experiences and any thoughts that crept into your mind while viewing today's clips/videos (and maybe even your current understanding of "The Lady, or the Tiger?"!), in the form of a few sentences, write your current life philosophy regarding the theme you have selected. I HAVE WRITTEN AN EXAMPLE ON THE FRONT BOARD FOR THE THEME OF "POWER" (SHARED EARLIER IN CLASS) AND WILL ALSO PROVIDE ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR THE THEME WORD "ORDER".
- After you have written your theme statement, HIGHLIGHT your themes (theme words) as I have done in the example about "power".
- draw index cards and discuss life philosophies (theme statements, really! ;) )
--Please pick up the "Theme Statement Comprehension Check" halfsheet from the front table.
Closure #2 -- Theme Statement Comprehension Check (remainder of class?)
--After carefully reading the directions, complete the task at hand and turn in your best work based on the time permitted. Bear in mind the following theme words:
--After carefully reading the directions, complete the task at hand and turn in your best work based on the time permitted. Bear in mind the following theme words:
- happiness/unhappiness
- gratefulness/ungratefulness
- optimism
- hard work
- persistence
HW (Practice/Take-Home Assessment/Class Preparation)
HW (Class Preparation)
--Based on your current level of understanding of theme statements, strongly consider crafting a rough theme statement for Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?", bearing in mind the following theme words:
- barbarism/savagery
- fairness/unfairness
- fate/chance
- innocence
- jealousy
- justice
- love
- loyalty
- order
- power
--Read at least 10 pages of your free reading book between now and next class. ALWAYS BRING YOUR FREE READING BOOK TO CLASS!
- "There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book" (Frank Serafini, author of The Reading Workshop).
On the backburner:
- returning assignments
- standards assessment
- grading scale explained
- self-reflection
- assessments returned
- SEE LAST SCHOOL YEAR!!!
- THEME LESSON SEQUENCE (CONT.)
- "The Best Nest", The Dos/Do Nots, working with student-crafted themes against Stockton, outlining
