Lesson Plan – Tuesday, October 25
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
Intro to A Separate Peace
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7/8
I.
Goal:
Students will begin to develop an understanding of the context in which the major
themes of the novel A Separate Peace will play out.
II.
Objective:
I will learn the who-what-where-when-why of A Separate Peace.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Videos, computer and means of projection
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
Hi! Today you get to start A Separate Peace!
B. Transition
Before we start talking about the novel, let me tell you a little about myself…
C. Main lesson
1. Meet your student teacher
10 minutes
a. Questions?
2. A Separate Peace takes place during WWII
10 minutes
a. What’s the first thing you think of when you hear “World War II”?
b. What was life like in the United States at that time?
c. Watch videos and explain/discuss.
3. A Separate Peace takes place at a swanky private boarding school
5 minutes
a. About John Knowles
b. About Devon and the world it’s based on (Phillips Exeter)
4. You get to write an essay (hurray!)
5 minutes
a. Assign essay; handout with expectations and prompts will be online
D. Transition
On Tuesday you’ll get to learn more about A Separate Peace and start your new vocab!
E. Conclusion
Bye! DO YOUR READING!!! (and see you on Thursday!)
VI.
Assessment:
Did they show evidence of having background knowledge of WWII? If so, good. If not, be
sure to incorporate more information about the war (especially on the home front) in the
weeks ahead.
VII.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 1 and 2 (and don’t be afraid to write in your book!)
Lesson Plan – Thursday, October 27
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Day 2
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7/8
I.
Goal:
Students will begin to identify and analyze some of the major themes in A Separate
Peace.
II.
Objective:
I will discuss how competition and envy affects the characters and the plot of A Separate
Peace.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Computer and projector, student copies of A Separate Peace
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
Hi! Today we get to start talking about A Separate Peace (and review some other stuff).
B. Transition
Part of what we’re doing with A Separate Peace is your daily Reading Response. First thing
when you walk in, you will choose one of these questions to respond to and spend 15
minutes writing your response, using your book as reference.
C. Main lesson
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers)
15 min
a. When Gene sees the tree once more as an adult, he says that it looks much
smaller than it did when he was young. Why does it look smaller? What do you
think the tree symbolizes?
b. How does Phineas get away with breaking the rules? By the
end of chapter two, we can tell that Gene is somewhat jealous of his friend’s
ability to get away with anything. Is Gene simply jealous, or does he resent
Phineas? How can you tell?
c. Why is the Devon school administration so hard on the seniors? Why does Finny
and Gene’s class, on the other hand, get treated with leniency?
2. Discussion
30 min
a. TPS: Come up with three pros and three cons of competition. Considering your
list, do you think competition is healthy or unhealthy?
b. Pro/con list on the board for competition
c. “I couldn’t help envying him that a little…” (p. 25)
i. Can we change “competition” on the pro/con list to “envy”?
ii. Is all competition based on envy? Can you think of an example of
competition that is free of envy? TPS
d. “…this was my sarcastic summer” (p. 29)
i. Come up with an example of a sarcastic statement.
ii. Is that statement a lie? Why or why not?
iii. Sarcasm is saying the opposite of what you really mean. Lying, right?
iv. Sarcasm=lying=“the protest of people who are weak.” Why would
someone who is weak not speak the truth? Is Gene a liar?
e. Read: “Bombs in Central Europe…” (p. 30). Based on that, why might this book
be called “A Separate Peace”?
f. “Nothing endures…” p. 14. Based on that and the other events of these two
chapters, what do you think is going to happen in this book?
g. “Prodigious” on p. 15! Based on context, what does it mean?
D. Transition
We’re in the middle of the rising action of A Separate Peace right now. You’re reading a
lot of foreshadowing, and it’s building up to the climax. When you’re reading chapters
three and four, pay attention to how the plot is building up and notice anything that you
think might be foreshadowing. What do you think is going to happen next?
E. Conclusion
Bye! DO YOUR READING!!! (and see you on Monday!)
VI.
Assessment:
Record student responses during class—get input from each student at least once.
VII.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 3-4.
Lesson Plan – Monday, October 31
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Chapters 3-4
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7/8
I.
Goal:
Students will understand two major literary themes (the nature of friendship and the
nature of reality) in terms of A Separate Peace.
II.
Objective:
Students will trace a major theme (the nature of friendship) in chapters 1-4.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
E-mail Jake the RR questions ahead of time
IV.
Materials:
Blank sheets of paper, student copies of A Separate Peace
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
B. Transition
And now... we’re on to A Separate Peace.
C. Main lesson
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers) 10 min.
a. Gene believes blitzball is a perfect game for Finny. Explain how the game is
played. How do the rules of the game and the skills needed to play it reflect
Finny’s character?
b. What school record does Finny break? Finny makes Gene promise to keep his
record-breaking secret. Why? What does that suggest about him?
c. Did Gene knock Finny out of the tree on purpose, or was it an accident? How
can you tell?
2. Reading Quiz
15 min.
a. Explanation of how the reading quizzes will work
b. Draw three names at random and have those students come to the front
c. Ask those three students three questions each from the reading quizzes
i. If they cannot answer all of the questions correctly, the entire class
takes the reading quiz
3. Discussion
15 min.
b. Gene’s increasing resentment toward Phineas (throughout both chapters)
i. Trace it through chapters 1-4 (they should take notes)
ii. PAGES 59-60!!!!
A. What happened?
B. Did Gene do it on purpose or not? How can you tell?
C. Compare scene from both versions of the movie. Is it accurate?
VI.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 5-6.
Lesson Plan – Wednesday, November 2
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Chapters 5-6
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7/8
I.
Goal:
Students will understand two major literary themes (the nature of friendship and the
nature of reality) in terms of A Separate Peace and will comprehend vocabulary words
from the novel both in and out of context.
II.
Objective:
Students will trace a major theme (the nature of reality) in chapters 5-6.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Student copies of A Separate Peace, iPads, computer and projector
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
Hi! Today you get to start working on your plot graphing projects!
B. Transition
But first it’s time for reading responses. Choose your prompt and write; you have ten
minutes to do it.
C. Main lesson
10 minutes
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers)
a. After the overnight trip to the beach, what does Gene decide Finny is trying to
do to him? What leads Gene to this conclusion? How does Gene feel when he
realizes he is wrong?
b. We get Gene’s point of view on Finny’s fall and the boys’ friendship, but how
do you think Finny would explain his reason for being in the tree? How would he
explain how and why he fell?
c. Why does Phineas get angry when Gene comes to his house to apologize? Why
do you think he refuses to accept Gene’s explanation?
2. Reading Quiz
10 minutes
a. Draw three names at random and have those students come to the front
b. Ask those three students three questions each from the reading quizzes
i. If they cannot answer all of the questions correctly, the entire class
takes the reading quiz
3. Discussion
20 minutes
a. Finny’s concept of reality (pp. 37-40 ff.)
i. Optical/auditory illusions
ii. How do we know what is real? If you simply decide that something is
real, does that make it so? Illusions like what we saw are both real and
unreal at the same time, right? How does that work?
iii. Finny (and Gene) create their own reality and live within it, and we
hear this entire story from Gene’s point of view. How can we tell what is
real and true?
iv. Explain and fill out “Is This Real Life” sheets in pairs (it’s an exit pass!)
D. Conclusion
Bye! DO YOUR READING!!! (and see you on Friday!)
VI.
Assessment:
Reading quizzes, if given, and reading responses; “Is This Real Life” exit passes.
VII.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 7-8.
Lesson Plan – Friday, November 4
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Chapters 7-8
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7
I.
Goal:
Students will understand two major literary themes (the nature of friendship and the
nature of reality) in terms of A Separate Peace and will comprehend vocabulary words
from the novel both in and out of context.
II.
Objective:
Students will trace a major theme (the nature of friendship) in chapters 7-8 and will
study the use of adjectives in the context of the novel and out of it.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Student copies of A Separate Peace, computer and projector
V.
Procedure:
A. Time for reading responses! Choose your prompt and write; you have ten minutes to
do it.
B. Main lesson
10 minutes
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers)
a. What is Finny’s theory about the war? Why do you think he chooses to believe
that this theory is true?
b. Why is it surprising that Leper Lepellier is the first boy from Devon to enlist in
the military?
c. Do you think the boys at Devon school have a good idea of what being a soldier
in a war is really like? Give a specific example from the book to defend your
answer.
2. Reading Quiz
15 minutes
a. Draw three names at random and have those students come to the front
b. Ask those three students two questions each from the reading quizzes
i. If they cannot answer all of the questions correctly, the entire class
takes the reading quiz
C. Conclusion
Bye! DO YOUR READING!!! (and see you on Tuesday!)
VI.
Assessment:
Reading quiz, reading responses
VII.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 9-10.
Lesson Plan – Tuesday, November 8
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Chapters 9-10
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7
I.
Goal:
Students will understand the plot and major themes of A Separate Peace.
II.
Objective:
After direct instruction, students will demonstrate an ability to recognize and discuss a
major theme (the nature of reality) in A Separate Peace.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Student copies of A Separate Peace
V.
Procedure:
A.
But first it’s time for reading responses. Choose your prompt and write; you have ten
minutes to do it.
B. Main lesson
10 minutes
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers)
a. For the boys at Devon, is peace something that is real and not real at the same
time? Use a specific example from the book to explain.
b. Leper says that Gene always was “a savage underneath” (Knowles 145). Is that
true? Why or why not?
c. At the end of chapter 10, why does Gene yell at Leper and refuse to listen to
him anymore?
2. Reading Quiz
15 minutes
a. Draw three names at random and have those students come to the front
b. Ask those three students three questions each from the reading quizzes
i. If they cannot answer all of the questions correctly, the entire class
takes the reading quiz
3. Discussion
15 minutes
a. How is Finny like or unlike Leper? Is Leper really crazy? Is Finny? What’s the
difference and how can you tell?
b. Is Gene “a savage underneath?” How so? Aren’t we all?
C. Conclusion
Bye! And DO YOUR READING!!! (see you on Friday!)
VI.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapter 11
Lesson Plan – Thursday, November 10
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace: Chapter 11
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7
I.
Goal:
Students will understand the plot and major themes of A Separate Peace.
II.
Objective:
After direct instruction, students will demonstrate an ability to recognize and discuss
major themes in A Separate Peace.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Student copies of A Separate Peace
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
Hi! Today you get to talk about the momentous chapter 11 of A Separate Peace! (So, what
happened to Finny at the end of the chapter?)
B. Transition
But first it’s time for reading responses. Choose your prompt and write; you have ten
minutes to do it.
C. Main lesson
10 minutes
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers)
a. An inscription on a building at Devon school says, “Here Boys Come to Be Made
Men.” Do the boys in the book grow up and become men as the story goes along?
Find a specific example of how they do or do not become men.
b. During the trial, Finny can’t seem to remember the details of his fall from the
tree. Has he really forgotten what happened, or is he just pretending he forgot?
How can you tell?
c. Why does Phineas get so upset and angry at the end of the chapter? When he
says “I don’t care,” is he telling the truth? How can you tell?
2. Reading Quiz
10 minutes
a. Draw a name at random
b. Ask that student a question from the quiz
c. Repeat for each quiz question (10 total); keep track of the grade
3. Discussion
30 minutes
a. Why does Brinker want to hold this trial? Does Finny, the “casualty,” want his
case to be tried? Why not?
b. Bottom of p. 170—is Finny trying to help Gene, or does he really not remember
the accident? How can the adjectives and adverbs Knowles uses to describe the
situation help determine Finny’s level of honesty and his intentions? (Also, if
Finny is trying to help Gene, why would he say where Leper is on p. 172? Is it that
he really, truly believes that Leper won’t say anything damning because there is
nothing damning to be said?)
c. So why does Finny get so angry at the end of the chapter?
D. Transition
Remember to keep working on your vocab dictionaries; on Tuesday you need to have 10
vocab sheets done!
E. Conclusion
Bye! DO YOUR READING!!! (see you on Tuesday!)
VI.
Assessment:
Reading quiz, reading responses
VII.
Assignment:
Read A Separate Peace, chapters 12-13.
Lesson Plan – Tuesday, November 15
Student Teacher’s Name
Rachel Boylan
State Standard
Name of Lesson
Grade Level
Subject
A Separate Peace, Chapters 12-13
9
English
Period/Time
1/3/5/7
I.
Goal:
Students will understand the plot and major themes of A Separate Peace.
II.
Objective:
After direct instruction, students will demonstrate an ability to chart the overall plot of A
Separate Peace.
III.
Adaptations for Diverse Learners
No particular adaptations necessary.
IV.
Materials:
Student copies of A Separate Peace, copies of blank plot graph
V.
Procedure:
A. Set / Hook
Hi! Reactions to the ending of A Separate Peace?
a. Did anyone not know that Phineas was going to die?
b. What did you think about the end of the book? About the book as a whole?
c. Read “I was ready for the war now…” and “I never killed anybody…” (discuss)
d. Soon we’re going to look at this a little more and chart out our thoughts…
B. Transition
But first it’s time for reading responses. Choose your prompt and write; you have ten
minutes to do it.
C. Main lesson
1. Reading Response (include at least one quote to support your answers) 10 minutes
a. Near the beginning of chapter 12, Gene goes to see Finny, who yells at him
angrily. Why is Finny angry with Gene about his leg now, when he never was
before?
b. Gene says, “I did not cry then or ever about Finny,” (Knowles 194). Finny was
Gene’s best friend; why do you think Gene didn’t cry over his death?
c. This book could be called A Separate Peace because the boys have peace at
Devon that is separate from the war. Can you think of another reason why this
book might be titled A Separate Peace? Explain.
2. Collect reading responses!!
a. If you didn’t print them out, you have until the end of today to do so without
losing points. I told you that you would need to print them. No e-mailing.
b. Staple them together!
2. Reading Quiz
10 minutes
a. Draw a name at random
b. Ask that student a question from the quiz
c. Repeat for each quiz question (10 total); keep track of the grade
3. Discussion
20 minutes
a. Distribute blank plot graphs
b. Explain:
i. Define inciting incident, climax, etc. with student input, examples
1. Think of a well-known fairy tale; give me the climax, etc.
ii. During “Thriller,” fill in the boxes using the key on the back
1. The climax doesn’t have to come in the middle!
2. This is not Sesame Street: “Beginning, middle, end!”
iii. Compare ideas, come to a consensus
D. Transition
Completed vocab dictionaries are due after Thanksgiving break, on Dec. 1
E. Conclusion
Bye! Check MyOLu Studio! See you on Friday!
VI.
Assessment:
Reading quiz, reading responses
Name:
Period:
Act
io
ing
Event
Page
n
Ris
io
Act
Inciting
Incident
ng
li
Fal
Exposition
Page
Page
n
Foreshadowing
Event
Climax
A Separate Peace Plot Graph
Event
Page
Resolution
Finny’s secret, record-breaking swim
p. 43
The formation of the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session
p. 31
The arrival of the military (parachute riggers) at Devon
pp. 196-197
Gene’s near-death experience, when he almost falls from the tree
pp. 31-32
The trial
pp. 167-177
Finny’s confession on the beach that Gene is his best friend
p. 48
“I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there.”
p. 204
Finny’s fall from the tree
p. 60
The argument between Gene and Leper, who has gone crazy
pp. 141-151
The Winter Carnival
pp. 131-137
Gene and Brinker’s conversation with Brinker’s father
pp. 198-200
Finny’s original decision to jump from the tree
p. 15
The pink shirt incident
pp. 24-25
Gene and Finny’s argument about the accident at Finny’s house
pp. 69-71
Finny’s death
pp. 193-194
Gene’s fight with Quackenbush
p. 79
Finny’s secret, record-breaking swim
p. 43
The formation of the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session
p. 31
The arrival of the military (parachute riggers) at Devon
pp. 196-197
Gene’s near-death experience, when he almost falls from the tree
pp. 31-32
The trial
pp. 167-177
Finny’s confession on the beach that Gene is his best friend
p. 48
“I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there.”
p. 204
Finny’s fall from the tree
p. 60
The argument between Gene and Leper, who has gone crazy
pp. 141-151
The Winter Carnival
pp. 131-137
Gene and Brinker’s conversation with Brinker’s father
pp. 198-200
Finny’s original decision to jump from the tree
p. 15
The pink shirt incident
pp. 24-25
Gene and Finny’s argument about the accident at Finny’s house
pp. 69-71
Finny’s death
pp. 193-194
Gene’s fight with Quackenbush
p. 79
What’s Real?
Name:
Period:
Directions: Fill in the blanks below with examples from A Separate Peace.
Gene’s View Of…
His friendship with Finny
(pp. 48, 51-54)
Finny’s View Of…
Gene’s guilt
(pp. 69-71)
Finny’s View Of…
Gene’s confession
(Knowles 83)
Reality
He chooses to believe…
What’s Real?
(example/key)
Name:
Period:
Directions: Fill in the blanks below with examples from A Separate Peace.
Gene’s View Of…
His friendship with Finny
(pp. 48, 51-54)
Reality
Finny is his “best pal”
(Knowles 48).
He chooses to believe…
Finny is his enemy and is
trying to make him fail his
classes so that they will be
“even” (Knowles 51-54).
Finny’s View Of…
Gene’s guilt
(pp. 69-71)
Gene jiggled the tree limb Gene did not purposely do
on purpose to knock Finny anything to hurt Finny;
down (Knowles 70).
the fall from the tree was
entirely accidental
(Knowles 65, 70).
Finny’s View Of…
Gene’s confession
(Knowles 83)
Gene was trying to explain
the facts about the
accident and apologize for
them (Knowles 69-71).
Gene was “crazy” and was
talking nonsense; he
didn’t really mean what he
said (Knowles 83).