Create a Museum Exhibit: Analyze a Model Curator’s Statement

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Lesson Synopsis

1. Opening

A. Engage the Learner (5 minutes)

2. Work Time

A. Review the Performance Task - SL.7.4 (5 minutes)

B. Analyze a Model Curator's Statement - SL.7.4 (25 minutes)

3. Closing and Assessment

A. Brainstorm Unifying Themes and Texts - RL.7.2 (10 minutes)

4. Homework

A. Optional: Create Art: Students have the option of creating a poem, story, song, dance, artwork, or nonfiction piece in response to a Harlem Renaissance work. They may choose to include this as their contemporary piece in their Harlem Renaissance exhibit for the performance task.

B. Independent Research Reading: Students read for at least 20 minutes in their independent research reading text. Then they select a prompt and write a response in their independent reading journal.

Daily Learning Targets

Lesson Prep

Lesson Plan

Opening

A. Engage the Learner (5 minutes)

MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS 

To promote independence on the entrance ticket, challenge students to record their responses first and then as necessary share them with a partner. Grappling first will increase students' confidence and success on independent tasks such as assessments.

To promote independence on the entrance ticket, challenge students to use the words in the questions to form sentence frames to answer the questions. Then they can answer them independently. As necessary, students can then share their frames and responses with a partner. Grappling first will increase students' confidence and success on independent tasks such as assessments.

Work Time

A. Review the Performance Task (5 minutes)

MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS 

After students analyze the Model Curator's Statement and Label in Work Time A, invite students to participate in a Mini Language Dive in small groups to examine an effective statement in a label about a displayed work. The sentence of the Mini Dive also helps students address RL.7.4 and L.7.5c by featuring words with precise connotations (e.g., turbulent) to evoke a particular mood.

B. Analyze a Model Curator’s Statement – SL.7.4 (25 minutes)

“I can generate criteria for the curator’s statement of a museum exhibit on the Harlem Renaissance.”

“What does this theme mean to you? How is nature mysterious? How is life complex?” (Responses will vary, but may include something about how powerful storms or the ocean can be and how life is complicated by all our thoughts, relationships, and interactions.)

“What words and phrases show that the writer is excited about these works and wants the reader to be excited as well?” (Phrases like brought great beauty into the world and perhaps they will remind you of the beauty and mystery all around us show appreciation. Also, phrases like Open your eyes, look around! include you and an exclamation point, which show excitement and invite the reader to join in the excitement.)

“Based on the tone of the model curator’s statement and label, who is the audience for this model exhibit? Why do you think this?” (This model sounds like it is written for older students or adults who don’t necessarily know about the Harlem Renaissance. The writer uses a formal tone and explains a lot about the Harlem Renaissance.) If necessary, prompt students further with questions such as, “What words and phrases show the formal tone?” (There is no slang used. No sentences begin with “and” or “but.” Formal words like “overall” and “together” are used.) “Who is this model written for? How do you know?” (It is written for older students or adults who don’t know about the Harlem Renaissance because of the complex explanations and deep themes but also the basic context information.)

MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS 

Before Work Time B, ask students whether they have previous experience going to museums. Ask these students to share their experiences with the class. As necessary, prompt these students with questions such as

What have you seen in a museum? What kinds of things are on the walls of museums? Besides the art, what else is on the walls? Why is there text next to each piece in a museum? What does this text tell visitors?

Asset-based instruction increases students' comprehension, confidence, and engagement with performance task.

Before Work Time B, ask students whether they have previous experience going to museums. Ask these students to share their experiences with the class. As necessary, prompt these students with questions such as

What have you seen in a museum? What kinds of things are on the walls of museums? Besides the art, what else is on the walls? Why is there text next to each piece in a museum? What does this text tell visitors?

If students don't have the language or comfort to share their experience, they can draw or write about it or tell a partner or the teacher who can share it with the class. Asset-based instruction increases students' comprehension, confidence, and engagement with performance task.

Closing

A. Brainstorm Unifying Themes and Texts - RL.7.2 (10 minutes)

"I can identify themes developed across works of the Harlem Renaissance."

MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS 

In the brainstorming activity of Closing and Assessment A, ensure that students are strategically grouped to best support and challenge them. This may mean mixed groupings by language or content proficiency. However, ensure that there are at least two students from each level and that there is no more than one level of difference among the students in a group. Strategic grouping affords students the opportunity of supporting and being challenged by others.

In the brainstorming activity of Closing and Assessment A, ensure that students are strategically grouped to best support them. This may mean mixed groupings by language or content proficiency. However, ensure that there are at least two students from each level and that there is no more than one level of difference among the students in a group. Strategic grouping affords students the opportunity of supporting and being challenged by others.