Jacklyn Johnson

Secondary and Elementary Education

English Language Arts
8th Grade
Topic

State Standards

ISTE Standards
Technology
Prior Knowledge,
Bellwork, Pre-Lesson
Work

Hook or Beginning of
Lesson

Class Discussion or
Whole Class
Instruction

Vocabulary, Idioms, and Comparisons in the novel Of

Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Standard 1: Vocabulary - The student will expand
vocabulary through word study, literature, and class
discussion. 1. Words in Context - Verify the meaning
of a word in its context, even when its meaning is
not directly stated, through the use of definitions,
restatement, example, comparison, or contrast. 3.
Idioms and Comparisons - Analyze idioms and
comparisons, such as analogies, metaphors, and
similes, to infer the literal and figurative meanings
of phrases.
Standard 3: Research and Information Fluency- Students
apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information. D. Process data and report results.

iPads, SMARTboard, Prezi

There will be a few vocabulary
words on the board from Of Mice
5-10 minutes and Men that the students will write
down and record their meanings
from the dictionary.
I will ask the students if they know
what an idiom or comparisons are.
After some (or no) answers I will
give the definitions of the two
5 minutes
words. I will then ask the students if
they can give any examples now
that they know what the terms
mean.
20 minutes
I will begin my lesson by pulling up
the Of Mice and Men Prezi on the
SMARTboard. We will go over the
definitions of vocabulary words from
the first chapter Of Mice and Men.
We will then go on to talk about
idioms, analogies, metaphors, and
similes. With each literary term

Independent Practice

10-15
minutes

Closure or Summative
Assessment

5 minutes

there will be a definition and an

example from the book. At the end
of the slides the students will be
asked to pick up an iPad.
With the iPad, the students will take
a short quiz that was presented at
the end of the slides. Once they are
finished, they will use their
definitions from the beginning of
class to do a vocabulary worksheet.
I will reiterate the meanings of the
literary terms we discussed and
remind the students to listen for
these terms in their daily life.
Next, they will clean up their area
and make sure their work is turned
in and the iPads are put away before
the bell.

*The time is merely a suggestion based on a 45-55 minute period of time (normally middle school and high
school).
Elementary school schedule depends on the subject. ELA/Reading is normally no less than a 90 minute
block of time.