Rebeccah Calloway English/9th grade

Lesson #1 October 14th 2013 10:40 am

Learning Objective: By the end of the lesson, students should have basic comprehension of what a 'theme' is. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to identify the theme(s) of The Sniper. Alignment with Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.2 - Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.2 - Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.2 - Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.2 - Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text. Cross-curricular Connections: The short story, The Sniper, by Liam O'Flaherty is about the Irish civil war. Therefore, it relates to world history. The students will learn a bit about the conditions of those involved in this civil war when they read and analyze The Sniper.Identifying theme is a skill that is frequently evaluated on state reading tests. Therefore, students will need this skill to do well on state standardized tests. Assessments: Students will be pre-assessed on their basic knowledge of theme before we begin the lesson. Students will be verbally assessed during the lesson about their understanding of theme after they have read the short story, and after we have discussed what the theme of The sniper is. On October 16th 2013 students will take a quiz on theme. Accommodations: Rather than having the class read the story individually, I will start off by reading the story and then having the class popcorn read the remainder of the story. I will also

allow the one student with an IEP more time to complete the quiz on the 16th. Anyone who struggles with the understanding of theme is welcome to meet with me outside of class to get a chance to ask more in depth questions than the ones asked in class discussion. Anyone who fails the quiz will be allowed one retake opportunity on Friday with an alternate quiz. Materials: Elements of Literature third course textbook by Holt, Promethean board, notebook paper (for note taking,) pencils, YouTube video on theme, and handout on theme. Procedures: I will begin by asking students what the word theme means to them in their own words. I will reward the students who answer this question with candy. I will then give a prezi presentation on theme. After the presentation, the class will popcorn read The Sniper. We will review the story as a class after we have read the story. I will give them a day to study their notes on theme and the short story. On October 16th I will give the class a quiz on theme. Activity Analysis: I will be using popcorn reading for the short story because I want to be certain that each student is paying close attention to the story. I will also use a prezi presentation to grab the classroom's attention and keep it. I will be using a YouTube video to help students relate to the concept of theme on a personal level. References: http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/themeworksheets/teaching-theme/