Reading 1: 7-31

Reading 1: The Sound of the Shell (Chapter 1, 7-31)

This unit on Lord of the Flies is broken up into 7 readings. Each of these readings has a reading quiz and a reading discussion that both cover the reading material. Once I've determined the theme and essay topic for the novel, the discussions especially focus on thematic elements. In addition to this, I usually incorporate several thematic "Activities" to accompany the reading quiz and lecture. I'm used to teaching on the block schedule, so a reading quiz, the discussion, and the reading activity will usually take an entire period. Everyone has their own schedule, so organize this however makes sense. Click here to get a reading list. 

Reading 1: The Sound of the Shell (Chapter 1, 7-32 or 5-41)

This period begins with the reading quiz on reading 1 and the Reading 1 Discussion Questions. After students take the quiz and do the discussion, Reading 2 Activity preps them for the next reading. Remember that the reading activities always cover material 1 reading ahead: You do the activity for the next reading before the reading is done, usually right after the students have taken the quiz for the previous reading. 

Curricular Materials:

Reading 1 Quiz This is the student worksheet for the reading quiz that can be filled out and turned in for points

Reading 1 Discussion These are teacher lecture notes covering the reading

LOF Reading Activity 0  This is the teacher description of the activity with links to videos

World According to Nike Student Worksheet This is the student worksheet that can be filled out and turned in for points

Reading 1 Quiz

Have students take the reading quiz as soon as the period begins. The quiz is only a few questions long and students are allowed to use 1-2 word answers. The quiz should not take longer than 5-8 minutes to complete. When students finish, have them exchange papers and grade out loud in class. By grading out loud, even students who didn't do the reading get some of the basic events of the reading. Reading 1 Quiz 

Reading 1 Discussion

Discussion is a very important element of covering the novel, so a brief description here of how it works. Discussion is the lecture for the novel and the passages it contains are thematically oriented and shed light on the most important passages in the novel. The link provided here and in the curriculum folder gives the teacher all the lecture notes for each reading. Typically, students take these as notes after completing a reading quiz and turn in every so often for points. 

• Students must write the first sentence of the discussion quote and the page numbers for the item, then underneath this write the question as they see it on the notes. 

• The teacher picks students to read the passages aloud and then the class discusses the answer for the question and whatever it may imply. Emphasize to students that there are not necessarily "right" answers here, only "logical and illogical" All completed answers receive full credit grades.

• The point of making students fill out discussion questions is that they will discuss the most important passages in the book and have their location listed in their notes. The discussion notes they fill out here not only give them a participation grade, but they also contain the facts (and quotes from the book) that they will later use on the essay and the exam. Reading 1 Discussion 

After students finish both the reading quiz and the discussion, they are ready for the Reading 2 Activity to prep them for the next reading. 

Reading 2 Activity: The Fall

After all videos have been watched and discussed the class needs to answer these questions in both class discussion and writing:

• • The common theme of all these commercials is an appeal to a human desire for greatness, for impact. Is this desire for greatness a basic human desire? In your opinion, how strong is the desire for greatness in the human heart and how does it motivate people in life?

  • A common theme seen in these commercials is that we will run into obstacles in our path to greatness. Based on what you have seen here, what are we supposed to do when we encounter these obstacles and what motivates us to do it?

Once students have finished watching and discussing the World According to Nike activity, they are now ready for Reading 1: Chapter 1 of the Novel, pages 5-31.