Sydney Sniezek

The Red Guards

I. Title: The Red Guards

Date: 12/13/2017
Standards:
1. Standard - CC.1.2.6.C: Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced,
illustrated, and elaborated in a text.
2. Standard - EO6.B-K.1.1: Demonstrate understanding of key ideas and details in
informational texts.
II. Objective
1. Introduction to symbols and symbolism.
2. Understanding how authors use symbols in texts.
3. Identifying differences between their lives and freedoms with a young girl during the
Chinese Cultural Revolution.
4. Identifying and rating importance of symbols in a text and explaining why they are
important.
III. Materials
 The Red Guards from Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang
 Symbols slideshow
 Venn Diagram Worksheet
 Pen/Pencil
IV. Procedure:
Before (Symbolism Slideshow) (15 minutes)
1. Teacher will begin with a short slideshow of images that symbolize other things.
2. The slideshow will consist of symbols of Love (hearts, roses, cupid), the United States
(American Flag, bald eagle, whitehouse, statue of liberty, etc.), and Evil (how Disney uses
Lime Green around their villains to associate it with evil).
3. The teacher will explain that certain colors, icons, and photos can evict certain emotions
and ideas by these visuals being associated with it.
4. Authors use symbols to allude to an idea or notion without them having to tell you exactly
what it means.
During (30 minutes)
1. Class will read The Red Guards from Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang as a read aloud.
2. The teacher will answer questions that develop from reading the text as a think aloud.
After (Venn Diagram) (15 minutes)
1. The teacher will have the students compare the difference between Ji-Li’s life and their
own.
2. Using a Venn Diagram, the students will take examples from the text of specific
descriptions, events, ideas, and characters to compare what their lives are like here in
modern America.
V. Reflection
 Class What went well
Core 1  Great discussion about
WWII and really making
those connection between
the Cultural Revolution to
fully understand the text
Core 2  Instead of using the
individual venn diagrams,
we did a venn diagram on
their lives together as a
class on the whiteboard.
They seemed more engaged
because they participated in
their own learning.
Total: Approximately 60 minutes
What I would improve
 Making sure I go back to
symbolism in the story if I talk
about it.
 The kids did not seem to get
anything done with the Venn
Diagram activity when I had
them do it on their own.
 I had a better discussion on the
WWII connections with core 1,
but the point was still understood.