Lesson

Plan Format
Teacher: Jordan Wright
Unit: Short Story

Grade: 8

School: Harkins Middle School

Date: March 19th, 2015

LESSON MAP
Title of Lesson: Short Story: Setting
Curriculum Outcome (Taken directly from the curriculum document This outcome may take more than one
specific class period): 8.2 The students will become aware of and describe the writing strategies that help
them learn; express an understanding of their personal growth as language learners and language users.
Class Objective: Big Ideas, Key Questions: The
Assessment (Products): The students will do a quick write
students will learn the purpose of short stories, as well where they will set create a setting for their short story. They
as create the setting for their own.
will focus on details that make use of all the senses. I will
wander the room to formatively assess their individual progress.

Time Required for this lesson: 45 Minutes

Materials/ Resources: Pen, Paper, Writing Journals

Methods / Structure: I will begin the lesson with a quick discussion on the purpose of short stories. Then I will give
them a series of prompts on the SmartBoard to help them get started with a quick write on setting. After a short period of
writing, they will share what they wrote (voluntarily) and then I will put up on the board a narrative piece of my own,
along with questions.
Text/Audio/Video-based Resources

Features:

Vocabulary:

- SmartBoard display.
- Writing prompts.
- Self-written narrative piece.
Instructional Strategies/ Procedure for the Class:
Phase 1: Motivator/ Introduction / Review / Warm-up --- The Beginning (Engagement)
I will begin the class with a short discussion on what the purpose of short stories are, which are to entertain with an
imaginative experience. After the discussion, I will provide the class with a series of writing prompts to help them get
started with a quick write.

Time: 5 Minutes

Phase 2: Knowledge Content (Tasks and Activities) Supporting Learning --- The Middle (New Content)

The class will open to a new page in their Writers Notebook, and they will make a new section called Features of Short
Story. It is here that they will write down the purpose of short stories. I will then put up onto the SmartBoard a series of
questions that will help them get a better understanding of how to create a setting for their own short stories. The
prompts are: Where does it take place? (City, Town, School?) Whats going on with the environment? (Weather, Season?)
What is the time of day? What is the time in history? (past, present, future?)

Time: 10 Minutes


Phase 3: Thinking (Activities) - Engage Students in Higher Order Tasks --- The Thinking (Application)

The students will begin their quick write on setting as I circulate through the class to provide individual help. They must
focus on setting and include a fair amount of sensory detail. Once 15 minutes have passed, I will ask volunteers to share
the setting that theyve created.

Time: 20 Minutes

Phase 3: Closure Reflection / Assessment / Review / Evaluation --- The End

I will close the class by showing them a narrative based on setting that I personally wrote. Once I finish reading it aloud, I
will ask them if they see any elements within it that are important to short stories (which we covered in the previous
class) These elements are plot, setting, characters, theme, and conflict.

Time: 10 Minutes


Differentiation:
- I would circulate the class to offer one to one assistance.
Teaching Method and Strategies:
References:

ATTACH any materials you created to use with the lesson.