ACTIVITIES: The following
daily and weekly activities will focus on the social,
ethical, racial, and political aspects of Gaines's novel
A Lesson Before Dying:
Daily: Students will read and respond to the novel,
A Lesson Before Dying, and grapple with the themes
of Social Justice, 2) Social Transformation, and 3) Social
Reconciliation (e.g., journal responses, narrative essay,
and oral dialogue). link
Journal Template #1 | link
student work
Week 1: Students will provide oral responses
to questions on Human Rights issues as they relate to
the novel.
Week 2: Students will research the Internet,
choose a literary role model or political role model and
portray the character, in an oral presentation. Student
filmmakers also search the Internet for Death Penalty
cases (e.g. statistics, images, articles, and historical
data.
 |
 |
| Students working on their journal
entries. |
|
Week 3: Students will produce short
oral presentation video. Student filmmakers also videotape
the oral presentations.
link video
clips
Week 4: Students will critique oral presentations
and complete the template. link
Template #2 | link
student work
Week 5: Students will write a persuasive
essay that addresses the essential question, develop a
thesis, and follow the stages in the writing process.
link student
work
Week 6: Students will prepare a student
portfolio (e.g. resumes, autobiographical narratives,
a A Lesson Before Dying journal, teacher recommendation
letters, awards, and business cards) in preparation for
High School Exit and future employment. Student film crew
will prepare and present a Death Penalty Documentary video.
link student
video
The six-week unit activities are linked to the study of
the novel. Therefore, the students become aware that the
novel A Lesson Before Dying, is an introduction to
survival when the odds are not in their favor. The students
learn that Jefferson (the character in the novel) lacked
the educational training and employment skills for improving
his life chances. However, he redeemed his character and
improved his self-esteem through journal and letter writing.
Consequently, the students are taught that education (reading,
writing, listening and speaking) is directly linked to (application
form completion, listening attentively to questions prior
to responding, and interacting in an oral interview setting
with confidence and self-assurance) improving their life
chances.
|
