Secondary English Lesson Plan

Between Books and Art1

httml://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Alan_Poe

Grades 9-12

Objectives

Following this lesson, students will be able to: comprehensively understand a literary text through close-reading practices and key scene analysis understand that arts media can be integrated with and help facilitate the understanding of literary texts recognize art as an extension of literature, and vice versa use technology as an effective means of research and reference, specifically through searches of selected Internet sites. copies of literary text(s) read by all students composition paper and Xeroxed copies of student handouts computers with Internet access one projector mechanism for final student presentations Phase I 1. Print out student handouts that contain a piece of art relevant to a text or texts that the class has previously read and

Materials

Procedures

1 1

Adapted from http://www.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/activities/books-art/index.html

More Than Books Unit 1

Secondary English Lesson Plan

Procedures (cont.)

Procedures (cont.)

studied within the class. Distribute these to the students. 2. Review with the class the relation of art and literature. 3. Divide the class into groups of four or five students (or let them choose, whichever you prefer). 4. Have each group deliberate which book from the class on which they wish to focus for their Book/Art Review project. 5. Tell the students that they will choose three key scenes that they think are the most important to the text and analyze them thoroughly. Write a short rationale for selecting these scenes, as well as 1-2 paragraphs describing your analysis. 6. Have the students touch on what sensory images stick out to them. This can also speak to the student in terms of setting description or simple vivacity of the language. 7. Have the students describe the mood and tone of the scenes, as well as selecting five especially vivid adjectives or keywords that align with the selected mood and tone of their selected scenes. Phase II 8. Direct students to your choice of online art galleries (plenty exist) and have them browse the art in search of pieces that can tied to the analysis of the previous phase of the project. 9. Tell the students to try to include pieces that are from the same general time period as their selected literary text is, and to include both abstract and concrete images in your art selections. They need one of each for each scene selected. 10. Compile the pictures and write a 1-2 paragraph statement from the group justifying your selection of each piece of art. They must clearly describe how the piece ties into their interpretation of the text. 11. Urge the students to be as creative

More Than Books Unit 2

Secondary English Lesson Plan

and imaginative as possible! Phase III 12. Each group will prepare a Powerpoint slide show so that they can present their paintings, interpretations, and analysis of the text to the rest of the class.

Assessment

Students will be graded on how well they: work within the group. This includes equal participation, and active initiative when due dates approach. analyze the text they choose from the class syllabus. Key scene selections must be pivotal to the story and their analysis of it within the framework of the handout must make sense. The teacher may judge these analyses at their own discretion. used the time allotted to the them thought out their statement regarding the parallels between their text and art selections is organized their final presentation and presented their finished product. This lesson plan addresses the following standards of the National Council of Teachers of English: Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, evaluate, appreciate texts. [. . .] Students use a variety of technological and informational resources to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

Standards

More Than Books Unit 3