Walden

January 31, 2018

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.9
Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics.

EQ: Analyze major themes from the transcendental time period. 

Starter: 

Based on your notes, identify a theme of Song of Myself.

Explain how this theme is evident in the writing.

Vocabulary: 

Word: Central idea

Part of Speech: Noun

Dictionary Definition:  the central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of the other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story.

Your Definition: 

Activity:  Describe the central idea of your favorite book, movie, TV show, etc.

Activity: 

1.  Walden

Read and annotate Walden.

Once you are done reading find three quotes that you found interesting.

Write the quote down and then write a few sentences explaining why you chose that quote—what it meant to you, reminded you of, etc. You may have connect it to something that happened to you in your own life, to a film or book they saw or read, or to something that happened in history or is happening in current events.

Divide the students into groups of three, labeling one student A, one B, and the other C in each group. Invite the A students to read one of their chosen quotations to their group. Then students B and C discuss the quotation. What do they think it means? Why do they think these words might be important? To whom? After several minutes, ask the A students to read the back of their card (or to explain why they picked the quotation), thus having “the last word.” This process continues with the B students sharing and then the C students.

Finally, we will discuss these ideas as a class.

2.  Think Questions

Answer questions 1-3 on page 134.  

Closure

What is one quote that you found most interesting and why?