Lesson Plan Template February 8, 2011 Dr. Thieman

Name: _____Jay Harden___ Age/Grade Level____ 7 th Grade__ Subject Area(s)____Language Arts___ Unit Title: __Imaginative Writing _ Lesson Title: _Crazy World Estimated Time__60 min______

Purpose/Rationale for lesson: Illustrate the ways in which authors of imaginative writing create entirely new worlds.

Curriculum Framing Questions:

Essential Question: How do stories grab and keep our attention?

Unit Question that applies to this lesson: How do writers get ideas?

Lesson or Content Question(s): How do writers create whole new worlds?

Goal: To help students begin to recognize and identify components of the imaginative writing process.

Learning Objective(s): a. Engage students through meaningful discussion to identify and explore examples of the ways in which authors create new worlds through imaginative writing. b. Students will develop understanding of how breaking from normalcy in our writing can affect our creativity. c. Students will apply understanding in writing.

Curriculum Standard(s): EL.07.WR.01 Use a variety of strategies to prepare for writing , such as brainstorming, making lists, mapping, outlining, grouping related ideas, using graphic organizers, and taking notes.

EL.07.WR.02 Discuss ideas for writing with classmates, teachers, and other writers, and develop drafts alone and collaboratively.

Materials Needed: 1. Computer with internet 2. Projector

Background knowledge or skills students need prior to lesson: Ability to read and write basic 5-paragraph essay Procedures: Class will begin with the usual fifteen minutes of silent reading. (15 min)

After students have put away reading materials and retrieved their writing notebooks, I plan on spending a few minutes reviewing the imaginative writing concepts we covered in the prior lessons before introducing the new one.

Hook or Introduction: Show clips from The Lord of the Rings and The Neverending Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pki6jbSbXIY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-ofFtw8Q0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcE7gzjq4IE&feature=related

**Before watching, students will be asked to count the number of different types of characters in the LOTR and first NES clips.

In each case, the class will then describe the different characters after watching to focus their abilities to differentiate. (10-12 min)

Like the previous lesson, students will be asked to take out their writing notebooks and open to a new page under the heading “Imaginative Writing.”

We will then make a chart in which we begin analyzing examples of stories in which authors have incorporated one unique, imaginative detail. For example:

Normal World Imaginative World Student body is made up of all types of School different creatures. Blue aliens are ten feet tall and live on a World different planet

(5 min)

After demo/model of chart exercise, students will work with their partners to think of at least three imaginative traits of a new world. I will gauge class understanding by walking around and checking on student progress. Students will be asked to share with the class some of their ideas. (5-10 min)

Students will then be asked to begin writing about a new world that they listed with their partner or heard in discussion and begin individually writing a scene in which they explore that new world. (6-8 min)

Students will then share their scene with their writing partners. Class closure focuses on how authors manipulate details of a world and characters to create whole new worlds. (6-8 min) Transition to reading partner seats.

The reading segment of class will then help reinforce concepts covered in the writing portion. Students will be asked if they have ever read The Neverending Story to utilize prior knowledge. We will then discuss the story’s connection to the material we just covered in writing. (10 min)

Students will then read the short story silently to themselves. When they finish reading they are to highlight specific examples of where the author diverges from the normal world and illustrate the imaginary world the author has created. They are also to ponder what exact details make us know the world is completely imaginary. (10-15 min)

Last five minutes of class will be spent discussing how creative writers can be when developing new worlds.

Differentiation/Accommodation: Use of video clips and visual aides (chart) should help ELL students simplify their understanding in engaging ways, and discussion with partners allows students to hear the concepts through the language of their peers. Breaks for silent reading/writing and pair shares should allow ample time for one-on-one check- ins with challenged students.

Attention to Literacy: Silent reading, individual writes, and partner reinforcement.

Closure: Discussion to help alleviate any questions/concerns and allow students to voice ideas and illustrate examples of topic for better comprehension.

Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning: Discussion, short writes, and pair shares should allow ample opportunity to move about class and make initial observations concerning students’ understanding.