In this lesson, collaborative groups will read a variety of American tall tales, then report elements of their story to the whole class. Students add story information to a collaborative, whole-class character study matrix that summarizes all the stories. In a writing activity, students compare two characters of their choice. The lesson process is applicable to any set of related texts.

This lesson will teach how characters evolve across a story, and that often times the important changes are subtle. This lesson uses accountable-talk during a read aloud of One Green Apple by Eve Bunting to demonstrate how, as readers, students can use the traits of their character as a lens through which to interpret deeper, more significant changes stirring within. They will ultimately use those observations about their characters to author an epilogue for their books. The epilogue will allow students to demonstrate what they have learned about their main character, and it will allow the teacher to assess how well the students understand their characters and the changes their characters experienced across the text.

In this lesson, students work cooperatively to analyze the title characters of Romeo and Juliet. Students look for citations that help develop their characters, then write character analyses.

In this lesson, which can be paired with any number of texts based during the Civil War, students create a five-paragraph character sketch of a character from the story they've recently read. Students outline the sketch before starting to write, then assess each others' work with a rubric.

In this lesson, students engage in a choral reading of Shakespeare in an effort to better understand his works. By reading rearranged character lines - sometimes out of context - students see new sides to characters in Shakespeare plays they have already read.

For students to show understanding of character development and theme after reading The Crucible, have them create a one-pager.  This has students pulling text, applying it using Bloom's Taxonomy, and creating a visual.

The 12th grade learning experience consists of 7 mostly month-long units aligned to the Common Core State Standards, with available course material for teachers and students easily accessible online. Over the course of the year there is a steady progression in text complexity levels, sophistication of writing tasks, speaking and listening activities, and increased opportunities for independent and collaborative work. Rubrics and student models accompany many writing assignments.Throughout the 12th grade year, in addition to the Common Read texts that the whole class reads together, students each select an Independent Reading book and engage with peers in group Book Talks. Language study is embedded in every 12th grade unit as students use annotation to closely review aspects of each text. Teacher resources provide additional materials to support each unit.

The laws that govern and the social norms that regulate society are not always fair, legal, moral, or ethical. What is a person to do about all this injustice? What are the hazards of righting injustices or changing social norms? And what are the dangers of doing nothing?

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Students read and annotate Antigone, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” and Pygmalion.
Students write a literary analysis showing the effect of social class or the law on a character’s life.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

These questions are a guide to stimulate thinking, discussion, and writing on the themes and ideas in the unit. For complete and thoughtful answers and for meaningful discussions, students must use evidence based on careful reading of the texts.

How do social class and legal institutions shape literary characters’ lives (and presumably our lives)?
How does social class affect a person in dealing with the law (protect a person, hurt a person)?
How is social class determined in America and in other places in the world?

BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT: Cold Read

During this unit, on a day of your choosing, we recommend you administer a Cold Read to assess students’ reading comprehension. For this assessment, students read a text they have never seen before and then respond to multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. The assessment is not included in this course materials.

In this lesson, students continue to revise their Character Analysis Essay. They will look at an example of an effective conclusion and write an alternative conclusion for their essay. With a partner, they’ll discuss their two conclusions and pick the most effective.

In this lesson, students begin writing their Character Analysis Essay and share what they have written with a partner.

In this lesson, students revise their Character Analysis Essay. They will look at an example of an effective introduction and write an alternative introduction for their essay. With a partner, they will discuss their two introductions and pick the most effective.

In this lesson, students finish reading, annotating, and discussing Pygmalion. They’ll write about what they think will happen to Liza after the play ends and discuss how satisfying they found the ending.

In this lesson, students continue reading, annotating, and discussing Pygmalion. They’ll write about the impact of Higgins’s meddling in Doolittle’s life and also Doolittle’s final speech in the play. They’ll also finish their Independent Reading Group Novel for homework.

Students read a biography and then write an essay based on what they have learned.

In this exercise, students will compare two books of the same genre and similar topics using questions that require students to demonstrate understanding of a text by referring explicitly to the text as the basis for answers.

Students are required to act out their favorite character from the book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Students will also develop an opinion of the main character, Hugo Cabret. They must decide if he is a diligent or obsessed person. Students will then create their own Hugo Cabret puppet using a paper plate and cut out body parts. The puppet will convey two reasons why the student felt the way they did about Hugo, as well as two references from the text to support their opinion.

A playlist
-is a sequence of activities for students to complete.
-might be assigned during one class period, over a few days, or even for an entire unit.
-can be based on one skill or standard in a course or based on multiple skills, standards, or disciplines.

This resource includes a sample playlist based on a single standard in high school ELA as well as links to other sample playlists and resources across content areas and grade levels.

A reading role graphic organizer to help students infer character traits and character development while citing evidence.

This lesson has students look at the characters of Romeo and Juliet and perform a quick analysis in an attempt to figure out who to blame for the tragic ending of the play.

This resource provides a lesson designed to assist learners with essentially developing a backstory for many of the minor characters in the text David Copperfield.