Embedded Files
This unit offered a variety of texts: tv episodes, movies, short stories, a play, and a graphic novel!
Semester 1: Unit 5: How do we respond when challenged by fear?
Semester 1: Unit 5: How do we respond when challenged by fear?
Because Junior year is already so stressful, I wanted to start off the year with a somewhat spooky unit for my juniors. It wasn't the same angle of fear that I use with my sophomores, but I wanted to emphasize how fear is used as a means of power. Unfortunately for me, I was making it up as a went but for what it's worth, I did use the textbook a few times!
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
An oldie but a goodie! I've never taught Jackson's The Lottery before, but I thought it would be a good place to start so my kiddos could begin to wonder how fear is used to control populations.
Guiding Questions:
Are all human beings capable of violence and cruelty?
Can societal structures feed and direct violence and cruelty?
How do traditions hold power over the masses (people)?
Once it was revealed the purpose of the lottery, we played our version of it. Every student was given a pompom and a slip of paper. Their exit ticket told them to open the slip of paper and do what must be done.
The Village by M. Night Shaymalan
The Village by M. Night Shaymalan
I love a good spooky movie but there are only so many that are PG-13 so I settled with The Village!
After reading The Lottery, I wanted my students to expand their understanding of how fear is used to control populations. Are the elders justified? What obligation do we have to truth when we realize we've been lied to and exploited?
Film Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13NNQD2__cKRznGbLWk43u4YSI-9XCZcFetwS0hgmc6E/edit?usp=sharing
Black Mirror Double Feature
Black Mirror Double Feature
These were very well received by my students! There is harsh language and frightening scenes but it was definitely worth the class watch!
There's A Witch Among Us (Game)
There's A Witch Among Us (Game)
I can't remember if I found this class game on TPT or just from Google but this was a good transition to The Crucible as we focused on how fear is used to manipulate people. Students were going to have to lie and manipulate their classmates just to save themselves. Let the chaos ensue!
The Crucible
The Crucible
Though I'm not crazy about American Literature, this play slaps! This was my first time teaching it so there were some bumps along the way but I thought it was a perfect chance for students to see just how drastic it can be to use fear to intimidate and to control people.
Students got to choose their roles, some were voluntold and their final project was an isolated performance of one of the scenes from the play that related to our essential question.
These were also the most beautiful slides I've ever made in my life. Very proud of them. Thanks SlidesCarnival.
George Takei's They Called Us Enemy
George Takei's They Called Us Enemy
Because the district still wanted me to teach Internment, I had asked my advisors if I could teach George Takei's memoir instead as I emphasized that it was important that we read from real lived experiences where the themes are still applicable.
While I do like George Takei, I realized that this was probably too low level for my juniors, however, it was a fun teaching moment as my students didn't have much understanding of the Japanese Internment Camps. If I were to teach this theme again, I would probably choose Elie Wiesel's Night just because of its maturity and rigor.
Observation Questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16P_xsDwb_m5Zdtn2UaMJah13aWdL52cKhumBZggF56A/edit?usp=sharing
Semester 1 Final: Abbreviated Rhetorical Essay on George Takei's TED Talk.
Semester 1 Final: Abbreviated Rhetorical Essay on George Takei's TED Talk.
To practice our rhetorical writing, I challenged my juniors to analyze George Takei's speech and write an argument about Takei's message. We spent about a week on planning the essay, which I broke into chunks so students could have time
Day 1: First Read
Day 2-3: Close Read & Gathering Quotes
Day 4: Body Paragraph Skeleton
Introductory Texts:
The Moth "Don't Violate My People"
Hasan Minhaj's Homecoming King
Semester 2: Unit 6: Ordinary People Extraordinary Tales
Semester 2: Unit 6: Ordinary People Extraordinary Tales
As our juniors slowly but surely start thinking about college more, I think it's important for students to start practicing their personal narrative writing and observing strategies that other writers use so that they're confident when writing their college personal essays.
Soundtrack to My Life: Opening Project
Soundtrack to My Life: Opening Project
One thing I wanted to do differently in this memoir unit was making personal soundtracks. My class loves music so I thought this would be a fun way to get them excited about the unit. Using the packet (TeachersPayTeachers saved me yet again), students identified 8 memories that are impactful to them, which they then paired with a song.
Packet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19rge7eTxzTkoaNrnLrl8hk4bJAJdBtznICMYvSl5FIY/edit?usp=sharing
They then created an album cover on Canva and hosted a "Listening Party" where we chose one of the songs and talked about the memory its connected with.
As students shared their stories aloud, their classmates took detailed notes about each presentation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1toPbnNI4eImC5VdI1Wmh_Nj0JPHmXtpFd3jLeWkdJ9c/edit?usp=sharing
Here's our playlist of songs that we chose to share for our Listening Party! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2FRj4osbu5esHKoyPg8qKm?si=cdbf249184c54ce9
*Yours Truly *
"Fix You" by Coldplay
Amber-Elizabeth
"Guess Who I Saw Today" by Samara Joy
Jose
"Vete Ya" by Valentine Elizalde
Donavan
"Tired of Being Alone" by Al Green
Mani
"Watch Me" Silento
Jacob
"Alabama" Frank Ocean
London
"Burn Up" Janet Jackson
Kalen
"Closer" Goapole
Jordan
"On My Own" by Drae
Autumn
"Melting" by Kali Uchis
Addison
"" Kehlani
Tahmid
"Godspeed" by Drake
TheMothPersonalNarrativeAnalysisActivity-1.pdfMoth Story Analysis
Moth Story Analysis
Thank goodness for TeachersPayTeachers! Making a note catcher can be exhausting and if I had planned properly, I would've made one but it wouldn't be as nice as this. I asked students to choose two stories from the Moth Library and analyze it by using the note taker.
Moth Story Free Write (Practice)
Moth Story Free Write (Practice)
Before we host our own Moth Story Showcase, we practiced writing quick personal narratives using this game from The Moth.
Instructions are simple:
Draw a card at random
Write
Prepare a free write that includes: Plot (beginning, middle, climax, resolution/end), Character Development, Imagery, Dialogue, Interesting Details/Anecdotes
It should be at least 500 words. (Use the Tool button for word count)
Moth Story Showcase
Moth Story Showcase
The theme for this semester must've been packets because for this process, students received a packet to help them brainstorm and organize their writing. There are 8 parts of the packet but as a class, we only did Parts 3-8. Students checked in with me for every part because I wanted to make sure they understood the instructions and were writing coherently.
Personal Essay Project Packet.pdfMemoir Book Club!
Memoir Book Club!
Before we start our college personal statements, I want them to feel inspired by reading and analyzing some classic memoirs. With their groups, they divide and conquer who reads what portion and collectively they will write a review of the memoir once they've finished!
Born A Crime
Born A Crime
Glass Castle
Glass Castle
Ordinary Man
Ordinary Man
I Am Malala
I Am Malala
In The Country We Love
In The Country We Love
Final: Personal Statement Essay
Final: Personal Statement Essay
As we get closer to summer, that also means many students are starting to explore more deeply their options after high school.
Considering that our high school is a college prep school, I thought it would be helpful to write their personal statements for their applications so that way they are ready to go in the fall of their senior year.
Reflection:
Reflection:
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