Day+Seven+Lesson+Plan

Day 7 Context: This lesson would be taught before beginning the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. This lesson is appropriate for students in a high school junior English class. The students in this class come from a suburban environment, and are of mixed gender, race, and include persons with disabilities.

Objective: This is a teacher guided discovery lesson aimed at making connections between the Salem Witch trials and 1950s McCarthyism.

Pass Objectives: This lesson meets Reading and Literature Standard 2, objective 1, C; Standard 2, objective 2; Writing/Grammar/Mechanics and Usage Standard 1, objective 3, 4; Modes and Forms of Writing Standard 1, objective 1, A-C; Standard 1, objective 3, A-C; Standard 4, objective A; Oral Language/Listening and Speaking Standard 1, objective 1, 3; Visual Literacy Standard 1 and Standard 2 for 11th Grade language arts. []

__ Procedure __ “In the Crucible, Mary is reluctant to tell the truth about the girls’ wild accusation, in effect saving the life of her master’s wife and several other people. Do you consider Mary’s actions cowardly? Is she justified in remaining silent? What should she do? What would you do?” Afterwards I ask for volunteers to share and try to get at least a 5 minute discussion going about the journal prompt.
 * Introduction: ** I begin by asking the class to take out their journal and a pencil and give them ten minutes to write on the journal prompt:
 * Guided Practice: ** I will ask them to take out a pencil and paper to prepare to take notes over a documentary of the McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Modification: If they have occupational disabilities and have trouble holding pencils, a laptop can be borrowed from the school for a student to type the documentary notes.


 * Conclusion: ** After letting the documentary run for 40 minutes, the class should be over. Ask them to hang on to their notes and tell them that we will finish the documentary tomorrow.

Assessment: No assessment today!

__ Materials __ Journal Smart Board Pencils // The Edward R. Murrow: The McCarthy Years // (1991) 114 minutes run time ($15) DVD player

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