Daily Lesson Plan for 7th Grade ELA Reading
Overview
This lesson plan spans four days and aligns with the Arizona English Language Arts (ELA) standards, incorporating Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Level 3 tasks to challenge students' analytical and critical thinking skills. This unit emphasizes reading comprehension, analysis of text structure, and thematic development.
Day 1: Introduction to Literary Elements
Objectives:
- Identify and analyze key literary elements (theme, character, setting).
- Engage with the text to understand its structure and meaning.
Materials:
- Selected short story or excerpt (e.g., an excerpt from "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros).
- Graphic organizers for literary elements.
- Projector for presentation.
Activities:
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Recap and Introduction (15 minutes)
- Begin with a brief recap of previous lessons on literary elements.
- Introduce the selected text and provide background information.
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Reading (30 minutes)
- Read the selected excerpt aloud to the class.
- Students read independently as well.
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Group Work (20 minutes)
- Divide students into small groups.
- Each group uses graphic organizers to identify the literary elements in the text.
- Encourage students to discuss their findings and interpretations.
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Class Discussion (15 minutes)
- Regroup as a class and discuss each group’s findings.
- Highlight different interpretations and insights into theme and characterization.
DOK Level 3 Task:
- Challenge students to compare and contrast the theme of the selected text with another they have read, providing textual evidence.
Day 2: Analyzing Character Development
Objectives:
- Examine how characters develop and change throughout a text.
- Analyze the impact of conflict on character development.
Materials:
- Selected short story or novel excerpt (continuation from Day 1).
- Character analysis chart.
Activities:
-
Review (10 minutes)
- Recap the discussion from Day 1 on literary elements, focusing on characterization.
- Introduce the day's key concept: character development.
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Detailed Reading (30 minutes)
- Read selected portions focusing specifically on character interactions and conflicts.
- Students can jot down notes on character traits and development.
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Character Analysis (30 minutes)
- In pairs, students fill out the character analysis chart.
- They identify the protagonist and antagonist, noting key traits, motivations, and changes.
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Class Sharing (15 minutes)
- Each pair presents their findings, focusing on character growth and changes influenced by events in the story.
DOK Level 3 Task:
- Have students create a character arc in a graphic organizer, illustrating their character's transformation and its causes.
Day 3: Theme Exploration
Objectives:
- Analyze the central theme of a text and its implications.
- Evaluate how the author develops the theme through literary elements.
Materials:
- Selected novel or short story.
- Theme analysis worksheet.
- Whiteboard for brainstorming.
Activities:
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Warm-Up (10 minutes)
- Briefly discuss the definition of "theme."
- Prompt students with questions about themes in previously read texts.
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Class Reading (25 minutes)
- Read the next selection of the text, focusing on telling details that hint at the theme.
- Pause to ask guiding questions about the text’s message.
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Group Work (25 minutes)
- In groups, students identify examples of literary elements that contribute to the theme.
- Fill out the theme analysis worksheet together.
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Group Discussion (20 minutes)
- Each group shares their identified themes and supporting evidence.
- Discuss how different groups interpreted themes and the underlying messages conveyed by the author.
DOK Level 3 Task:
- In a reflective essay, students analyze how different authors convey similar themes using various literary techniques.
Day 4: Synthesis and Application
Objectives:
- Synthesize learning from the previous days.
- Create connections between themes, characters, and real-world experiences.
Materials:
- Anchor text from earlier in the week.
- Exit ticket prompts for reflections.
Activities:
-
Review (15 minutes)
- Quick review of the key concepts learned about literary elements, character development, and themes.
-
Individual Reflection (20 minutes)
- Students reflect on the reading and its themes, citing specific references.
- They respond to prompts about personal connections to the themes.
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Class Discussion (15 minutes)
- Facilitate a discussion where students share their reflections.
- Encourage insights into how these themes relate to current events or personal experiences.
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Exit Tickets (10 minutes)
- Students complete exit tickets summarizing a key insight they gained from the week's reading and discussions.
DOK Level 3 Task:
- Assign students to create a multimedia presentation that represents the themes discussed, incorporating quotes and illustrations from the text.
This lesson plan ensures a comprehensive understanding of reading concepts aligned with Arizona’s ELA standards, utilizing a variety of engaging activities to foster critical thinking and deeper analysis in 7th-grade students.