Introductory+Activity+Example

Caleb Benham Jeff Jaskiewicz Edge March 12, 2009 Introductory Activity With our theme of Man vs. Society it is important to show students example of how an individuals actions could drastically change a situation. Students will be show clips from both //The Lord of Flies// and //1984// and they will analyze and interpret the actions taken place in the clips. Drawing on prior knowledge of society and group actions students will relate to decisions made by the majority and focus on how individual thoughts are not acted on in each scenario. Phase I: //The Lord of the Flies// Students will break off into work groups of 3-4 students arranging their desk in groups to allow for better discussion. A two minute clip from the 1990 film //The Lord of Flies// will play and students will be asked to discuss what they see and what consequences come from the conformity by all of the children in the movie. The clip itself is the slaying of Simon, one of the main characters in the novel, by the other children who assume by the accusation of Jack that Simon is the “monster” terrifying the children on the island. After watching the film clip students will be handed a worksheet with questions aimed at making sense out of what they just saw. Satisfying the unit goals of being able to work in a group, participating in group discussion, and introduction to the theme of Man vs. Society the students will be properly introduced to the unit focus and ready to move on with the lesson plan. Questions for discussion Clip- [] Phase II- //1984// Rotating groups to get to know other students in the class better and to get different opinions, students will prepare to view a clip from //1984.// In this clip members of Oceania are forced to watch a propaganda film on the war against Eurasia. The reaction to those in the movie theater differ from shouts of joy, to looks of confusion, and those acting a certain way because they believe that they are supposed to. It is important for them to see the link between the mass group of action happening in this clip and the clip for //The Lord of the Flies. //Particularly a few individuals stand out in this clip that react differently then the others and they should be able to draw out the significance of their actions. Also, at the end of this segment of question students will be asked to relate what they say in the clip to contemporary American history in which masses of people were drawn to the same images on TV. for example September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina, a political elections and so on. Questions Clip- [] Time Sunshine State Standards LA 1112.2.1.4- The student will analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view or comment on life, providing textual evidence for the identified theme.
 * 1) What is going on in this clip, and what is your reaction to it?
 * 2) What do you feel the children could have done different to avoid Simon’s death?
 * 3) Watching this clip, what do you expect the novel //The Lord of the Flies// to be like?
 * 1) What is happening in this clip?
 * 2) Do all of the members of the audience react in the same way? What is noticeable different in certain individual actions?
 * 3) What comparisons and contrast can be made from the clip of //The Lord of the Flies//?
 * 4) Can you think of any event in recent American history in which people were drawn to and relied on images on TV?
 * 1) House-keeping and organization of groups- five minutes
 * 2) Viewing first clip- two minutes
 * 3) Answering and discussion of questions- fifteen minutes
 * 4) Reformatting groups- five minutes
 * 5) Viewing second clip- four minutes
 * 6) Answering and discussion of questions- fifteen minutes