How do we tell others about our journeys? What do these stories tell us about a society?
THE CANTERBURY TALES UNIT CALENDAR
Monday
Week 1 DAY 1
Lesson: Exploring the Middle Ages
Objective: Students will be familiar
with the historical/ cultural context
of the Middle Ages
Assessment: Written
documentation of research and
large group discussion of findings
Week 2 DAY 6 The General Prologue
Lesson: Analyzing the Journey
Objective: Students will analyze
how Chaucer portrays each
characters pilgrimage and compare
it to modern-day examples.
Assessment: Written exit slip
Week 3 DAY 11The Millers Tale
Lesson: Scaffolding Chaucer
Objective: Students will read The
Millers Tale to identify and analyze
Chaucers critique of society.
Assessment: Pre/Post-reading
assignment
Week 4 Lesson: Create Your Own Tale
Objective: Students will create a tale about a journey while employing Chaucers reflection and critique of society.
Assessment: Final tale and short presentation
Tuesday
DAY 2
Lesson: Introduction to Chaucers
Middle Ages
Objective: Students will be familiar
with Chaucers background and the
vocabulary of the unit.
Assessment: Written notes during
lecture and vocabulary activity
DAY 7 The Knights Tale DAY 8 The Knights Tale
Lesson: What Makes a Hero?
Objective: Students will be able to
discuss and analyze the
characteristics of a hero.
Assessment: Small group
discussion
DAY 12 The Millers Tale DAY 13 The Millers Tale
Lesson: Modern Day Miller
Objective: Students will identify
common themes between
Chaucers fableaux and modern
tales to analyze critiques of society.
Assessment: Small group
presentation
Wednesday
DAY 3
Lesson: Translating Chaucer
Objective: Students will translate
texts from popular culture to
analyze the meaning that is lost in
translation.
Assessment: Written translations
of rap music and small group
discussion
** Lesson from Roberta Millikens Using
Rap Music to Teach an Appreciation of
Chaucers Language in the British
Literature Survey Class
DAY 9 The Knights Tale
Lesson: Irony, Satire, & Parody
Objective: Students will be able to
recognize and analyze irony, satire,
and parody in contemporary texts
and Chaucer.
Assessment: Create your own
meme
DAY 14 The Wife of Bath
Lesson: Modern Day Miller
Objective: Students will identify
common themes between
Chaucers fableaux and modern
tales to analyze critiques of society.
Assessment: Small group
presentation
Thursday Friday
DAY 4 The General Prologue DAY 5 The General Prologue
Lesson: Translating Chaucer Lesson: Zuckerburg in Canterbury**
Pt. 2 Objective: Students will construct a
Objective: Students will use Facebook page to reflect a
context clues and summaries to character in The General
translate Chaucers middle English Prologue using textual evidence
to a contemporary English. and employing the voice of the
Assessment: Written translation character.
charts and whole class discussion Assessment: Facebook sheet and
small group discussion
DAY 10 The Knights Tale
Lesson: The Heros Journey** Lesson: The Heros Journey Pt. 2
Objective: Students will be able to Objective: Students will be able to
explain and create parts of a explain and create parts of a
storyline that follows Joseph storyline that follows Joseph
Campbells Hero's Journey. Campbells Hero's Journey.
Assessment: Written contribution Assessment: Written contribution
to the Heros Journey to the Heros Journey
**Adapted from ENG 516G TSU English
Senior Seminar presentation
DAY 15 The Wife of Bath
Lesson: Portrayals of Women Lesson: Portrayals of Women Pt. 2
Objective: Students will be able to Objective: Students will be able to
interpret visual portrayals of The compare/contrast portrayals of
Wife of Bath. women in Chaucer and modern
Assessment: Interpretation Chart portrayals of women.
Assessment: Small group
discussion