Digital Unit Plan Template Unit Title: Understanding Themes in The Canterbury Tales Content Area: English/Language Arts

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s): READING 3.0 Literary Response and Analysis 3.2 Compare and contrast the presentation of a similar theme or topic across genres to explain how the selection of genre shapes the theme or topic. 3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot. 3.4 Determine characters traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy. 3.7 Recognize and understand the significance of various literary devices, including figurative language, imagery, allegory, and symbolism, and explain their appeal. 3.12 Analyze the way in which a work of literature is related to the themes and issues of its historical period. WRITING 2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics) 2.2 Write responses to literature: a. Demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of literary works. b. Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works. LISTENING AND SPEAKING 1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies 1.1 Formulate judgments about the ideas under discussion and support those judgments with convincing evidence 1.7 Use props, visual aids, graphs, and electronic media to enhance the appeal and accuracy of presentations.

Name: Miss Oakland Grade Level: Tenth Grade

Big Ideas:

When looking at the themes, symbols, and motifs in your story, ask yourself these questions: 1. What are some of the main themes in the tale? 2. How do the symbols and motifs lead you to the themes? 3. How do some of the themes relate to Chaucer and the issues in his society? 4. How does the genre affect the symbols, motifs, and themes of the story? Unit Goals and Objectives: Students will learn: How to do an effective presentation on the description of his or her character based on the text. How to write an effective Literary Essay on a theme in their given tale. How to collaborate with peers on ideas about similar themes in the tales through a Venn Diagram group project. How to share their ideas through writing Literature Responses about their assigned tales. Who Chaucer was, what he did, and why he is important through a Webercise. How to read and understand genres in The Canterbury Tales by constructing a timeline of events of their respective tale. Unit Summary: The title of this lesson plan is "Understanding Themes in The Canterbury Tales". This title may make this lesson plan sound scary and difficult, but don't fret. I will guide you through specific and easy to follow steps so that you can complete each lesson effectively and realistically :) We will be exploring the main tales in The Canterbury Tales. The characters in the text tell "tales" or stories that have themes, symbols, and motifs. Each student will be assigned one tale and one character. You will be required to read your character's tale. I will lecture on theme and how you can spot it to help you spot the important themes in your given tale. You may be thinking, "Oh no! How do I read a text 500+ years old? I can't understand it!". Like I mentioned before, I will give you tools and activities that will help you understand Chaucer's language and stories better. The purpose of this lesson is for you to better analyze literature to increase your critical thinking skills to better you in academic and life skills. Assessment Plan:

Entry-Level: Anticipation/Reaction Guide: 8-10 questions about characters in The Canterbury Tales

Formative:

Summative:

Critical Thinking Questions: About his/her Presentation: Present to the class your character character and his/her tale. Venn Diagram Project: List similarities and differences between characters in a group. Timeline: List the order of key events in your tale. Get to Know Chaucer Webercise: Complete the webercise to get to know Chaucer and his society better. Essay: Write a 5 paragraph Literary Essay about one of the themes in your characters tale.

Lesson 1 Student Learning Objective: Instructional Strategies: They will take notes on Communication How to collaborate themes and read their Collection with peers on ideas tale in order to Collaboration about similar themes in construct a Venn Organization the tales through a Diagram with Interaction Venn Diagram group classmates. project. Lesson 2 Student Learning Objective: Who Chaucer was, what he did, and why he is important through a Webercise. Lesson 3 Acceptable Evidence: Instructional Strategies: The Lets Get to Know Collection Chaucer Webercise Organization worksheet guides the student through a webercise. Acceptable Evidence:
Lesson Activities: Venn Diagram Group Project Guided Notes

Lesson Activities: Webercise worksheet

Student Learning Objective: How to read and understand genres in The Canterbury Tales by constructing a timeline of events of their respective tale. Unit Resources:

Acceptable Evidence:

Instructional Strategies:

Lesson Activities: Tale Timeline Worksheet

The timeline worksheet and directions guide Collection the student to Collaboration complete this Organization objective.

Chaucer Autobiography Documentary http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uxqAwT5IpL8 Presentation Help http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2WcB0qkBiZI Prezi Presentation Maker prezi.com Webercise Chaucer Bio http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/chaucerbio.html Webercise History Timeline http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/rfletcher/bl-rfletcher-history-3-gchaucer.htm Knights Tale Movie Chaucer Introductions youtube.com/watch?v=jdWO9ozir1Y Chaucer Glossary

http://pages.towson.edu/duncan/glossary.html

Useful Websites:

Theme and Symbol Information http://www.slideshare.net/rrlane/theme-and-symbolism Miss Oaklands Website: http://oaklandenglishcorner.weebly.com/ The Canterbury Tales Website http://www.canterburytales.org/ The Canterbury Tales Television Series http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E3zUoNG_P_0 MLA Format http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ Read Write Think Website with Canterbury Tales Character Worksheet http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/CanterburyTalesWikiWorksheet.pdf Help on Designing Effective Poster Presentations http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/designing-effective-poster-presentations-1076.html Organizing Your Essay http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=722&title=