University of Arkansas Fort Smith

School of Education
Lesson Plan
Unit Title: Life of Pi-Fact or Fiction
Subject Area: English
Duration of Lesson: 50 minutes
Name: Jennifer Creekmore

Lesson Title: Using Big Words

Grade Level: 8
Date(s) 12/02/14
SOE Course: ENGL 3403

I. Standard(s) and Objective(s)

Standard(s)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of
specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
Objective(s)
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
o Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text
o Compose a six-word summary of the text
II. Assessment
Pre-assessment (before planning lesson)
The pre-assessment for this lesson was a formative assessment conducted during the previous
weeks of school. For the pre-assessment, the students have been completing their Reading
Vocabulary Sheets. For each reading assignment from Life of Pi, students have come to class
with their five words they chose as new vocabulary words. Each student has created a word bank
to assist them in reading this novel, in addition to preparing them for this integrated unit.
Post-assessment

Formative-During this lesson, I will walk around the room and take note of which
students have a more difficult time creating their Magic Square so that I can give them
additional assistance with the vocabulary at another time.
Formative- Students will compose a six-word summary on an Exit Slip. I will be able to
analyze these slips to determine if any students did not understand the novel. I will provide
additional support for these students.
III. Planning
I have collaborated with my fellow educators at Fort Smith Middle School to create an
integrated unit suitable for our eighth grade students. We wanted a unit that would engage the
students throughout and increase the students knowledge in each core subject. We decided
to create the unit based on Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This book has so many interesting
stories within stories and provides many opportunities for each teacher to create applicable
lesson plans. After determining that our unit would be Life of Pi-Fact or Fiction, I began to
work on the unit plan for my English classroom. The first step would be to increase
vocabulary for the students while they were reading the book. During the first day of the unit,
I wanted to check for understanding with each students vocabulary bank that he or she
created while reading the novel. It is important for the student to comprehend what they are
reading to prepare them for the writing assignments in this unit.
IV. Engaging the Learner
To engage the learner, I will show the students the video clip from the beginning of the Life
of Pi movie in German.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfs9FbYqHmQ (5 minutes)
I will explain to the students the importance of understanding the language used in the novel
in order to comprehend the reading, and the reasoning behind their word bank. I will explain
that the vocabulary in this story determines whether or not the reader believes it is fact or
fiction, and how using big words will make an imagined story believable. (5 minutes)

V. Methods, Activities and Resources

Methods
Direct Instruction- My Engaging the Learner section
Performance Activities-Students will work individually on their Magic Square
vocabulary.
Exit Slip-Students will complete their Exit Slip and stick it on the door when leaving
class.
Activities
o Engaging the Learner-Explained in the Engaging the Learner section
o Performance Activity-Students will work individually to complete their Magic
Squares handout. (20 minutes)
o Exit Slip- Students will compose a six-word summary of the story, using only the
words from their word bank and write it on an exit slip according to our classroom
procedures. Exit Slips will be posted on word wall after I review them. (20 minutes)
Resources
Printed copies of Magic Squares Handouts
Students copies of Reading Vocabulary Sheets
Life of Pi video clip- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfs9FbYqHmQ
SMARTboard
Other eighth grade teachers in my group
VI. Potential Adaptations to the Lesson {PAL}

o Students with IEPs for reading difficulties will have additional support throughout the
reading assignments to ensure his or her word bank is complete.
o Students with dyslexia can listen to an audio version of the text while reading.
o Visually impaired students will be given copy of text with larger print.

VII. Collaboration
I collaborated with the teachers in the other core subject areas in planning this unit.

VIII. Reflection and efficacy (to be completed after teaching this lesson)