Andrew Weber

Lesson Plan
English-World Lit 11
10/3/14
2nd and 3rd Hour

Lesson Plan- Introduction to Social Justice (Journal

Prompt/Discussion and Friday Reading Comprehension
Activity)
Objectives (Students Will Be Able To :)
SWBAT discuss social justice with informational texts to better
comprehend the themes of ethics and moral responsibility
SWBAT will write in their Writers Notebooks to develop writing skills in
connection to evaluation of personal ethics and morals
SWBAT work on reading comprehension through participation of activity
involving critical thinking skills
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1-Initiate and participate effectively in a
range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacherled) with diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues,
building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and
persuasively.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1.C-Propel conversations by posing and
responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; ensure a
hearing for a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarify, verify, or
challenge ideas and conclusions; and promote divergent and creative
perspectives.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.5-Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of
the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument,
including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and
engaging.
Materials:
NYT article about Animal Rights Abuse
Writers Notebook
Logic Puzzle for Reading Comprehension
Unit Context/Rationale:

Due to the students not being in the computer lab today to work on their
project, the students will be working in the classroom with
discussion/group-work oriented activities. On Fridays, we are trying to get
students to become more familiar with informational texts, so there will
be a journal prompt about a recent news event tied to the continuing
themes of social justice. Finally, the students will be working in groups on
a logic puzzle which requires the students to use their reading and critical
thinking skills to solve problems.
Procedures:
50 minute class
Students Will
10 Minutes
Write in their WN about the prompt
on the board

5 Minutes
Engage in brief discussion about
journal prompt

5 Minutes (Social Justice Discussion

Set-Up)
Listen to teacher explain the
story/set-up

10 Minutes
Debate the topic amongst other
classmates

Teachers Will
Introduce WN topic for today:
Video about Single Sex Schools
Write prompt on the board: Are
single-sex schools good for
education? Would removal of the
other sex allow students to learn
more effectively?
Discuss journal prompt with
students
Focus on:
Distraction
Better performance in school
Working environment/future
Developing at different times

Read NYT article about the debate

around animal rights and debaters
arguments to students
Lead discussion
Bring up:
Does an animal have the same
rights as humans?
Are pets more than just property?
Why do you think his crime would
be less severe if he kicked a
human?
Are animals capable of having
ethics or moral responsibilities?
How do you earn rights?
Is eating meat animal abuse?

20 Minutes (or remainder of class)

Work on logic puzzle in groups

Go over directions/show examples

of logic puzzle
Stress importance of reading
comprehension (re-read it over and
over!)

Accommodations:
There will be an additional instructor in 3rd Hour class to help any students
with IEPS.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed based on the journal prompt and participation
in the class-wide discussion.
Reflection:
Overall, the discussion went great. The students seemed actively engaged
in the conversation about animal rights. I need to improve my skills of
controlling the classroom discussion and letting everyone have an
opportunity to discuss the topic.