Unit/Lesson Plan Template (modified from MTS Lesson Plan Template) Name: Reva Potter Subject area: Language Arts Grade level: 7th Time frame: 3 weeks Lesson title: 20th Century Historical Fiction Brief lesson/unit Summary/Description This lesson focuses on the study of the historical fiction novel, Forbidden City, by William Bell. It is a young adult novel wherein the protagonist becomes involved with reporters during the Tiananmen Square protests and government crackdown in the spring of 1989. Student learning emphasizes connections to their geography curriculum and the impact of culture on literature. Essential Questions to guide this unit/lesson and focus teaching and learning: How are literary protagonists and real-life protagonists similar and different? How does setting affect the characters and themes of a novel? State Content Standard/Benchmark addressed http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/index.asp 7.R.4.1 Students can identify recurring themes in text from diverse cultures, time periods, and historical events. State Educational Technology Standard/Benchmark addressed http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/NCLB/index.asp 21st Century Skill(s)/Theme(s) addressed (see excel spreadsheet http://sdmasterteachers.wikispaces.com/Presentation+Handouts ) 1.GA.3 Understand other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages 2.CC.1 Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively through speaking and writing 3.ICT.2 Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information, and the possession of a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information Students will understand (lesson/unit objectives): Students will understand universal themes and their connections to our lives. Students will apply background knowledge of culture and historical events to comprehension of a novel. Students will organize information to create a presentation on novel theme and inter-novel connections for the class. Technology & Web 2.0 resources needed (hardware and software, websites) Students will need access to computers at the beginning and end of the unit for research on websites for background information and for creation of class presentation on theme of novel. Online collaboration tool: GoogleDocs (docs.google.com) for project editing teams My website: rp029.k12.sd.us My site links to the BBC Tiananmen timeline http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8057148.stm the China Guide http://www.thechinaguide.com/index.php and Frontline, “Tank Man” http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/view/?utm_campaign=searchpage&utm_medium=videose arch&utm_source=videosearch Procedure (learning activities)/ lessons of unit Students will be using both independent and classroom study of the novel, Forbidden City, by William Bell. Before reading, students will research using online resources in language arts to familiarize themselves with China, and particularly Beijing. They will concurrently be studying Asia, specifically China, in their geography class. When reading and reflecting on the book, students will use a journal based on the BBC timeline for events of spring ’89 in Beijing. Student study whole class will also include video of Tiananamen square, student protests, and current politics of civil rights in China. At the conclusion of the book, students will create a project to present to the class based on a major theme in the novel, including human rights, government systems, Chinese culture, education, and impact of peaceful protest. Strategies that can teach any student Discussion Drawing Field Trip Games Graphic Organizers Humor Manipulative Metaphor & Simile Mnemonic Device Movement Music Project-Based Instruction Reciprocal Teaching Role Play Storytelling Technology Visual Aids Visualization Work Study Writing Other: ________________ Describe application of above strategy or strategies below Other: A Timeline is a great strategy for this unit – the story runs parallel to real-life events. Students use the BBC Timeline handout to compare literary and real-life events and conflicts. Assessment Method/s and description Student literary events journal and timeline. Student final project for novel theme – connecting Forbidden City themes to similar events or characters to similar people. They will have a choice of media: brochure, poster, IMovie, PowerPoint, video skit, news broadcast, or project of student choice to portray key themes. Resource List Online resources: Websites, timelines, Frontline “Tank Man” video, research sources for project Nightline video of “Tiananmen 1989” Classroom maps and magazine articles for China Guest speakers who have traveled to China Notes: (this area may list accommodations, differentiation, as well as other key information that may not fit into the categories above) Some students will need to partner read and read with a teacher for difficult passages of the text, especially those with challenging vocabulary and foreign words/phrases. Student projects will include modifications for levels of difficulty. Students will use some collaboration for project, but may work independently primarily, by choice. Peer Reviewer: _________________________ Comments: