Rikki-Tikki-Tavi s1

Where the Red Fern Grows

Target Audience: Grade 7

Lesson Time: 3 - 50 minute Lessons

Placement Within Overall Lesson/Unit: Students are reading Where the Red Fern Grows. One lesson in this three-day unit involves a comprehension board game. The game is similar to Cranium, testing students’ knowledge and comprehension while allowing students to portray his/her creative and intellectual sides. Another lesson involves comparing and contrasting scenes from the movie to scenes/passages in the novel. An activity will be done to show the differences. The third lesson involves making connections (text, self and world) bringing in prior readings done throughout the semester.

Objectives:  Students will use different means (writing, connections, discussing, board game, etc…) to delineate his/her comprehension of the text. Get students actively involved with the text.

Materials Needed:  Copies of Where the Red Fern Grows  Board game and game pieces  Movie  Overhead projector or chalkboard  Dry erase markers or chalk

Preparation:  Make board game, questions, game pieces, instructions  Choose passages and movie scenes Day One: Connections  Warm up (5-7 minutes)  Silent read if need to finish novel (10-15 minutes)  Start a connections lesson: make connections between the world, self and other texts (25-30 minutes) Day Two: Compare and Contrast Film vs. Text  Warm up (5-7 minutes)  Finish lesson from day before  Show clips from movie and show where it is in the novel (compare and contrast the two) (10-15 minutes)  Have students write journal entries on the movie vs. novel and class discussion on what the students write in their journals (15-20 minutes) Day Three: Where the Red Fern Grows Board Game  Warm up (5-7 minutes)  Discussion students’ views of novel. Why they did/did not like the novel, what would they change? (5-10 minutes)  This game will test the students’ comprehension of the novel in a different way. It will allow the students to play a game while still reviewing the novel. (Rest of class period) Assessment:  Ensure that students understand the story  Ensure that students can work well in groups/teams to accomplish a task.  To see how well students can remember Where the Red Fern Grows and how they can make connections.  Have students writing, reading, discussing and listening during class