Subject:

Language Arts

Grade:

7th

Time:

7 class days

Unit:

Reading, understanding and evaluating The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Resources:

• Enough copies of The Giver for all students.
• Enough copies of handouts for all students.

Educational Objective:

• The student will have read The Giver by Lois Lowry.
• The student will be able to define vocabulary, such as utopia, dystopia, euphemism and ambiguous.
• The student will be able to explore jobs, careers and roles in society.
• The student will be able to express opinions about individuality, free will and choice.
• The student will be able to critique the ending of a book and decide whether the main character made a good choice.

TEKS Addressed:

• 110.23 (b) (8) (A) read classic and contemporary works
• 110.23 (b) (9) (B) draw on experiences to bring meanings to words in context such as interpreting figurative language idioms, multiple-meaning words, and analogies
• 110.23 (b) (9) (C) use multiple reference aids, including a thesaurus, a synonym finder, a dictionary, and software, to clarify meaning and usage
• 110.23 (b) (10) (A) use his/her own knowledge and experience to comprehend
• 110.23 (b) (10) (D) describe mental images that text descriptions evoke
• 110.23 (b) (10) (G) paraphrase and summarize text to recall, inform, or organize ideas
• 110.23 (b) (10) (K) answer different types and levels of questions such as open-ended, literal, and interpretative as well as test-like questions such as multiple choice, true-false, and short answer
• 110.23 (b) (11) (A) offer observations, make connections, react, speculate, interpret, and raise questions in response to texts
• 110.23 (b) (11) (B) interpret text ideas through such varied means journal writing, discussion, enactment, and media
• 110.23 (b) (11) (C) support responses by referring to relevant aspects of text and his/her own experiences
• 110.23 (b) (12) (F) analyze characters, including their traits, motivations, conflicts, points of view, relationships, and changes they undergo
• 110.23 (b) (15) (A) write to express, discover, record, develop, reflect on ideas, and to problem solve

Materials Needed:

• A copy of The Giver.
• Assignment sheet.
• Vocabulary worksheet.
• Journal for writing responses.
• Job assignment worksheet.
• Unit test.
• Pen/pencil.

Every day, a relevant quote from the Chapters assigned will be posted. This quote will help guide the discussion and activities for the day.

Day 1:

Introduction of The Giver, a contemporary novel by Lois Lowry about a society that values "sameness" and security over humanity. Begin a discussion about memory; what if people did not have memories?

• Activity: Begin the vocabulary worksheet. Define utopia as a class. Write the class definition on the worksheet.
• Assignment: Read Chapters 1 - 6. Reading can begin in class.

Day 2:

Review Chapters 1 - 6.

• Activity:Discuss and define the word euphemism. Write the definition on the vocabulary worksheet. Discuss euphemisms used in Chapters 1 - 6.
• Activity:Writing response predicting whether the society in the book will be utopian.
• Assignment: Read Chapters 7 - 11.

Day 3:

Review Chapters 7 - 11.

• Activity:Discuss career planning and what it would be like to have your job chosen for you. Complete the job assignment worksheet.
• Assignment: Read Chapters 12 - 16.

• Extra Credit Assignment: Look for black and white photographs (in family albums, magazines, etc.) and bring them in for extra credit. Photocopies are OK.

Day 4:

Review Chapters 12 - 16.

• Activity:Discuss what the world would be like without color. Think about black and white photographs. Writing response about color and how it enriches our world. Discuss the new child.
• Assignment: Read Chapters 17 - 20.

Day 5:

Review Chapters 17 - 20.

• Activity: Discuss euphemisms briefly as a refresher. Discuss the euphemism release and what it means. Talk about why this community is not utopian. Work on the vocabulary worksheet. Define euthanasia and dystopia. Write the definitions on the worksheet.
• Assignment: Read Chapters 21 - 23.

Day 6:

Discuss what Jonas does and what that means. Talk about the end of the book. Review of what will be on the unit test.

• Activity: Work on the vocabulary worksheet. Define free will and ambiguous. Write the definitions on the worksheet.
• Assignment: Study for the test.

Day 7:

A unit test will be given covering key vocabulary and issues discussed during class.

Assessment:

Each student should have completed the following:

• A vocabulary worksheet with words defined.
• Two writing responses.
• Job assignment worksheet.
• In class unit test.