Worsham 1

University of Arkansas
Grammar
Life of Pi
Unit Title:

Reading Strategies

Subject Area:

English 7-12

Lesson Title Characterization

Grade Level:10th

Duration of Lesson: 50 minutes

Date(s) :

Name: Ms. Worsham

Course: ENGL 3023

I.

Standard(s) and Objective(s)

Standard(s)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters develop over the
course of a text.
Objective(s)
Students will be able to define characteristics within a character at the beginning of a text.
Then, the students will be able to see how characters develop throughout a text.
II.

Assessment

Pre-assessment (before planning lesson)

Students will read a small excerpt from the book The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope
Osborne. Then the students will be assigned either Jack or Annie and turn in the following
list:

Clothing

Physical characteristics

how does this character affect other characters

what do other characters think about this character

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Post-assessment

Students will be able to fill out a characterization sheet for their assigned character from the
book Life of Pi. After students finish this sheet, they will raise their hand and I will come
by and quickly scan it. Then students will collaborate with other students that have the same
character, and compare and contrast.

III.

Planning
I will have to have worksheets for the class already printed out. I will also have to
have my youtube video pulled up for the bell ringer. I will have to plan for classroom
management to make sure students stay on task.

Formative assessment:
Students will have to collaborate with other students that have been assigned the same
character as them from Life of Pi and make a power point or prezi describing the character.
Then the students must present this powerpoint/prezi. The presentation must last at least 15
minutes and can include one short clip either from the movie or one that the students made..

IV . Engaging the Learner

For a bell ringer students will have to watch a short clip from Rugrats. Throughout this
video the students will be expected to write down what characterization traits they believe
that Tommy possess. I will have handouts for the class ready to fill out for this activity.

http://youtu.be/IEMg8cfqIoE

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V. Methods, Activities and Resources
Methods
This lesson will be both lecture and individual work. However, if the students finish their
characterization sheet quickly, they may get into their assigned groups and being working
together. If there are any groups working together I will need to be able to make sure that the
students are working on the assignment. I will also need to make sure that the students are not
too loud since not everyone will finish their character sheet at the same time.

Activities
Students will participate in class discussion about characterization. I will model what I am
expecting the students to be able to do with a character from a previous text the class has
read. Then the students will be given their handout to be completed for the given character.

Resources

Computer

Notebook

Markers

Bell ringer sheet

Except from A Knight at Dawn

Life of Pi book

Characterization sheet for Life of Pi activity

VI. Potential Adaptations to the Lesson {PAL}

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If technology fails I will need to be able to verbally describe what I am expecting of the
student.
I will also have to get with the teacher that specializes with the IEP and 504 students. I will
have a differentiated lesson for these students by asking them to only pick one or two
specific events that the student would like to change the point of view on. I will also have to
be prepared for a fire drill or pep rally. If I am limited on time for a class, I will have to carry
on the lesson to the next day.

VII. Collaboration
I would feel the need to involve the parents if I had a student that was not grasping the
sentence concept or if a student was defiant in class. Or if I had a student with an IEP or 504
I may need to talk to the parents to see if they have any ideas that will help their child
become more successful in the classroom. Then I could communicate the outcome of my
students work with his/her parents either via email, phone conference or in person conference
I will also need to keep in close contact with the SPED teacher to ensure that every need of
the student is met.