Novel Unit - Johnny Tremain Six Weeks in a classroom

Novel Unit - Johnny TremainSix Weeks in a classroom

Power Point Presentation

Phase III

Ann Alexander

Fall, 2001

Lesson Planning

• Teacher’s role is that of presenter. Students were given their task and had to discover a method of approach. Students had to assume the responsibility of discerning the best method of production.

Lesson Planning

• Student roles were varied at different points in the project. Students were given time daily after reading portions of novel to work on activities. Students were paired for some activities and had to designate jobs and duties. Students were instructed at completion of project to list their roles during project. Students divided responsibilities fairly without prompting.

Activity OneMap of Boston - 1770s

• Students display their finished products!

• Students paired in mapping activity

Activity OneBoston Maps

• Students had the task of first visiting the Boston virtual website and reading the information there as well as studying the photos.

• Then, they studied a modern map of the Boston area making note of the historical landmarks.

• Next, they looked at a map of Boston from 1800.• Finally, paired students created a map of Boston at

the time of Johnny Tremain.

Activity TwoPaul Revere the

SilversmithPamphlet Design

• Students are intense in their research on Paul Revere, the silver-smith, a character from their current Literature novel, Johnny Tremain.

Johnny Tremain Activity IICreate a Pamphlet

• The Student’s task -– Read Paul Revere’s biography– Read about silversmithing– Tour Paul Revere’s house, the oldest structure in

Boston.– Find other interests of Paul Revere– Student and their partner will design and create a

pamphlet advertising products created in Paul Revere’s workshop.

Students display their finished pamphlets!

Activity ThreeAdd a stanza - continue the

story“The Midnight Ride of Paul

Revere”• Student Task

– Read a factual account of Paul Revere’s ride.

– Read the history of the Old North Church.

– Read a poem about William Dawes.

– Read Henry Wadsworth Longfellows famous poem

– Final product will be to write a new stanza to add to Longfellow’s poem.

Students at work in instructor’s mini lab classroom.

Click here for copies of student stanzas

And so he galloped through village and town To every door to call up the men So Revere was to run and to ride on ground It seemed to lookers he was able to fly, then He would come to a halt, yell and cry And all the men knew that many would die To his wife, a kiss on the cheek And off he would fly, so silent and sleek So that at their pride, the British might have a peek

As he rode through the night on his great steed, He looked like lightning, he rode with such speed. His voice goes house to house, farm to farm, Ringing, ringing to sound the alarm. The minutemen rose from their warm beds, Hoping the noise was all in their heads, But soon fields would be painted blood red. While Paul Revere rode through the dark night, Brave minutemen prepared for a fight.

Activity FourDisplaying Contrasting versions

of an event• Students had to choose one of many listed people

or events and read information online at each site. They then had to review the actions of that person or event in the novel, Johnny Tremain. Their task was to prepare an oral presentation, a poster with contrasting pictures, or an essay comparing the historical person or event to the fictional way it was presented in the book. Rubrics were given for each activity.

Student displaying contrasts of a character drawn in pencil on a poster

Activity FiveWriting a Persuasive Essay

• Students task was to first read the essay “Sons of Liberty - Patriots or Terrorists?”

• Students then had to write a persuasive essay agreeing or disagreeing with the essay.

• Bonus from this activity - practice writing for 8th grade writing TAAS!

Students researching for essay

Click for student essay example of Activity Five