Novel Unit Theme Lesson

1
Novel UnitTheme Lesson

• Thursday, January 8, 2009
• AND
• Friday, January 9, 2009

2
Warm Up

• Have Readers Journey open to p. 171 AND your
  blue warm up sheet from yesterday (p.90 or 2-10A)
• Write about a time when you were hurt
  (physically, mentally or emotionally) and you
  wanted the world/life to stop.
• Did you move on? If so, how?

3
Homework ReviewQuestions/Discussion

• Is Tracy a major or minor character? Why does the
  author use her in the story?She is minor. She is
  included to emphasize Hamadis wise and gentle
  nature.
• Why do Hamadi and Susan get along so well?They
  both think differently about the world, both have
  ties to Middle East. Both like Kahlil Gibron.
  They can share experiences together.
• We go on. On and on. We dont stop where it
  hurts. We turn a corner. It is the reason why
  were are living. To turn a corner. Come, lets
  move. What theme is revealed from this quote?
  The ongoing struggle of life. Both Susan and
  Hamadi have had struggles moving to foreign
  lands, loving/losing people.
• Are Susan and Hamadi round/flat and
  dynamic/static characters? Which form of
  characterization did Nye use more frequently to
  reveal these characters? SusanRound, Dynamic
  HamadiRound, Static. Indirect characterization
  was most often utilized.
• How does Hamadi help Susan through a conflict?
  The conflict is future, but his quote (3) gives
  her comfort and helps her through future problems
  and pains.

4
Brain Change Activity

• Stand up, push chair in.
• SILENTLY find someone who has a birthday in the
  same MONTH as yours.
• Once all have found 1-2 people, then
• Tell what your favorite food is and why.
• Return to seats.

5
Vocabulary Check

• Unifyingwhat does it mean?
• How can you figure it out if you dont know?
• Ms. Boschees Deductive Reasoning
• Uniroot that means ONE
• Unitedcome together as one
• Maybe unify means the same thing?
• INGin process of doing something
• Unifyingbecoming one

6
ThemeWhat is it?

• Turn to page 74 in your Readers Journey.
• Read the definition.
• Write what it means in YOUR own words in the
  white space next to it.

7
ThemeClass Definition

• What it is NOT
• It is NOT the topic of the story.
• A topic is the subject of the story
• What it is
• Unifying idea, often implied. Can be a lesson
  about life or an observation about people
• Example Scooby Doo
• Topicsolving mysteries
• Themegood wins over evil

8
Common Themes in LiteratureNot an entire list

• Challenges help us grow and make us stronger
• Good triumphs over evil
• Without courage, one might fail when times are
  tough
• Life is short, make the most of it
• Things arent always what they seem
• We can change the future
• Love is stronger than hate
• Family and friends make life sweeter.

9
What are some themes for these events?

• Hanukkah Christmas Thanksgiving Valentines

Halloween St. Patricks Fourth of July
Veterans Day
10
What are some themes of these TV Shows?
11
Fables ThemesCheck for Understanding

• Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot
  summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to
  look for another place to live in for frogs like
  damp places if they can get them.
• By and by they came to a deep well, and one of
  them looked down into it, and said to the other,
  "This looks a nice cool place. Let us jump in and
  settle here."
• But the other, who had a wiser head on his
  shoulders, replied, "Not so fast, my friend.
  Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how
  should we get out again?"

What is a possible theme? (lesson
learned/observation) Look before you leap, dont
judge a book by its cover, think for yourself.
12
Group Activity

• You will create a SHORT skit that explores a
  theme.
• Each group will present skit and the class will
  try to guess what the theme is.
• Skit must be written and each person is involved.
  
• Form a group of 3-5

13
HomeworkThursday, December 8, 2009

• NoneHave a fun night
• There will be some tomorrow

14
Warm UpFriday, January 9, 2009

• Get together in the groups you formed yesterday
• You have 15 minutes to plan, write and practice
• Presentations follow.

15
Presentations

• Class will guess the theme.
• If it is unclear, you will give a HINT to help
  us.
• Good luck, have fun!

16
Previewing Homework

• Read the background paragraphs for The Grass
  Harp (p. 75) and Child of the Owl (p. 78)
• What do these narratives have in common?
• What makes them different (already)?
• Preview both stories before reading.
• Predict what stories will be about.

17
Weekend Homework

• Read BOTH stories (Harp/Owl) and complete p. 87
  questions 1-4.
• Have a safe and fun weekend!