LITERARY MOVEMENT

MINI LESSONS
To help increase your/our understanding of literature’s main movements, you will be work with a small
group to plan and deliver a mini lesson for your peers, just as the teachers do. Your 30-minute minimum
lesson should provide us with additional knowledge and enrichment as we explore different novels,
poems and excerpts from a variety of pieces. You will be assigned one of the following movements:

 Enlightenment
 Romanticism
 Transcendentalism
 Victorian
 Naturalism
 Realism
 Existentialism
 Modernism
 Harlem Renaissance
 Post-modernism

Your 30-minute lesson should include the following:

 An introduction in which you provide an overview/agenda of the lesson
 Thorough notes that explain the important characteristics, authors and works of the literary
movement
 An activity that will help your peers better understand and engage with the literary
movement
 A wrap-up/conclusion whereby your group explains the significance of the lesson.
Your lesson should NOT be a mere PowerPoint presentation

Everyone in your small group must contribute equally to the research process, assume an equal speaking
role, and provide a written component. These might include:

 Typed lesson plan (required; template available on Blackboard)

 Written directions/instructions explaining the activity for the students on a handout or presentation
slide (required)
 Notes sheet (with content or prompts provided)
 Entrance/exit slips
 Worksheet
 Quiz and answer key
 Works Cited of all resources used (in MLA 2016 format)
(required)

You might also consider including one or more of the following:

 Art activity
 Poetry/speech analysis
 Writing prompt
 Graphic organizer or guided notes
 Speaking/performance activity
Remember, the goal is education, not entertainment. You may not simply ask the group to complete a
spiderweb discussion, thereby eliminating your role in the process; the teaching must be active and
engaging. Additionally, games should be used sparingly - if it all - and should not make up the bulk of
your lesson.

If you have any materials you would like copied (i.e. worksheets, exits slips), they must be turned into
Mrs. Fireman, in-person or by email by 6:00 a.m. the day of your lesson.

DOS AND DON'TS OF MINI LESSONS

Do
 Make sure each member of the group
knows what he/she should be doing at all
times so no one is "standing around"
 Think about a back-up plan in case a
member of the group is absent (and will
therefore need to make-up assignment on
his/her own) or forgetful
 Walk around the room during the lesson,
posing purposeful questions to students or
checking on their progress
 Insist upon respect from the other students
during your lesson, but do not let it become
your sole focus
 Dress appropriately for the role: no sweats
Don't
 Forget to introduce and conclude the
lesson!
 Speak over students or give instructions
when they are not listening - insist that they
focus on the group member speaking at
any given time
 Rely too heavily on technology. Many a
lesson has been ad-libbed in the past
because a PowerPoint was not emailed or
the audio would not play
 Assume that your peers will simply handle
their "own part" of the lesson. You should
all know what is happening at any given in
the moment, and be able to step up as
needed.

GRADING
Though you will be working in a group, this assignment will be graded individually, based on your
contributions to the team. You will be assessed in three different areas:

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT (20 pts)

 Actively engaged in pre-planning discussions with fellow group members
 Thoroughly engaged in the research process during any lab time provided in class; used time well
 Had enough content to fill the entire time limit
 Provided a clear beginning, middle and end to the lesson (with an opening and closing)
 Demonstrated creativity by presenting a lesson that stood out from those of other groups

PLANNING/WRITTEN MATERIAL (20 pts)

 Provided written materials that demonstrated considerable thought, attention to design, and effort
 Wrote/created at least one of the required materials, including the lesson plan, written directions
or Works Cited
 Submitted all materials on-time (items for copying were submitted the day before)

PRESENTATION (20 pts)

 Presented the material in a well-thought out manner, and assumed an equal speaking role
 Transitions between speaking roles/activities were organized, with minimal confusions/delays
 Engaged all members of the class in the lesson by actively questioning students and assessing
their progress
 Overcome any/all obstacles with quick thinking and creativity
 Dressed appropriately for the role; both looked and acted professionally

TOTAL: /60