a Teacher's Guide to the Digital Galaxy
Digitally Engaged example Unit Plan
School:
Hypothetical High School
Grade Level:
10th and 11th Grade Classes
Subject Area:
American Literature
Approximate Time Needed:
2 1/2 weeks
For the purpose of this website the proposed unit only focuses on one text: Catcher in the Rye.
Unit Objective:
Students will learn, define, analyze, and apply direct and indirect characterization in both a visual format and written essay.
Unit Title:
Modern Rebel: Catcher in the Rye
note on the text and activities: this example does not use a novel related to digital technology, rather this example unit plan uses digital technology to teach traditional english literature. the digital activities mentioned on this page are outlined in pink and linked.
Note on standards: this curriculum will be developed further to meet common core standards (rather than a specific state standards).
monday
unit materials:
catcher in the rye (novel)
class computers
notebooks
wednesday
tuesday
friday
monday
wednesday
thursday
thursday
friday
tuesday
Lesson Goals: reading comprehension, individual research, fact checking, note taking, and listening comprehension.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
20 min: students individually research author, collect 5 bits of information using reliable resources from internet. (not linked)
15 min: lecture on novel’s context
5 min: discuss potential questions about text, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 1-3, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: group discussion, recognize key textual themes
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
25 min: Students break up into groups to discuss their questions and the first three chapters of the book
10 min: In large discussion, we take notes on what are the common themes of the plot based on student questions and discussion.
5 min: answer other questions, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 4-6, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: group collaboration, ditigal engagement, practice application of characterization.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
35 min: Students break into groups of 5, they each select a character and create a Facebook page for their chosen character. they friend each other and interact digitally according to how they think their character would act. assessment will be based on their accuracy of representation (i.e. use of quotations)
5 min: answer other questions, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 13-17, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: group discussion, recognize societal critiques within the text
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
25 min: Students break up into groups to discuss their questions and the three chapters of the book
10 min: In large discussion, we take notes on what are the societal critiques of the plot based on student questions and discussion.
5 min: introduce 2 page essay assignment, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 18-20, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: listening comprehension, writing skills, positive peer feedback.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
15 min: lecture on key writing practices: style, grammar, citation.
20 min: students break into pairs and have "coffee discussion" (aka hot chocolate or tea) about the assigned reading.
5 min: assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 21-23, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: connect major themes, characters, styles within text and discuss in cumulative manner.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
15 min: final large group discussion on completed text
24 min: student free write at computers using google docs (they share with teacher account at the end of class)
1 min: conclude class.
Homework: write outline/draft of 2 page characterization essay
Lesson Goals: practice individual writing, rhetorical devices, description, and characterization.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
15 min: lecture on writing tactics and rhetorical devices
20 min: Students write individual blogs during class about their imaginary meeting with holden caulfield
5 min: answer other questions, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 7-9, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: group collaboration, writing skills, positive peer feedback, reading comprehension, textual connection.
Activity Breakdown:
2 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
15 min: students break up into small groups and each give feedback on each other's essay ideas (not nitty gritty details)
5 min: students listen to song "i am a rock" by simon and Garfunkel
20 min: large group discussion on how song connects to text
3 min: answer final questions, conclude class.
Homework: complete 2 page essay for monday
Lesson Goals: reading comprehension, group collaboration, ditigal engagement, and analyzation of themes.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
20 min: Students break up into groups to discuss their questions and the first three chapters of the book
20 min: In class prism read of chapter 11, annotating for holdens emotions
5 min: answer other questions, assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 10-12, 3 Discussion Questions
Lesson Goals: reading comprehension, alternative visualization, large group discussion, writing skills.
Activity Breakdown:
5 min: Salutation, introduce day’s activities.
10 min: defining alternative vocabulary used in the text using lexipedia
25 min: large group discussion on text
5 min: assign reading, conclude class.
Homework: Chapters 24-26, characterization paper topic idea