English/LA Reading Plan

Lesson Title: Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen Effects of Conflict on Soldiers in WW1
and the explosion of Soldier prose during the WW1 period.
Date: September 29th, 2017
Subject: Social Studies: 20th Century World History 11, English/LA: Focused Literary Studies 11
Grade: 11

Rationale: To teach students the effects of conflict on Soldiers and how poetry can help us
understand what happened in WW1, Focused on poets of WW1 and the importance of prose
during conflicts
Curriculum Connections: English/LA and Social Studies
Curriculum Competency: Think critically, creatively, and reflectively to explore ideas within,
between, and beyond texts (English/LA), Explain different perspectives on past or present
people, places, issues, and events by considering prevailing norms, values, worldviews, and
beliefs (perspective) (Social Studies)
Content: Global Conflicts (Social Studies), form, function, and genre of texts (English/LA), literal
and inferential meaning (English/LA)

Learning Intentions Activity Assessment

Read the Poem and
Understand what it is about
Understand the Experience
of being gassed
Why was the use of gas so
devastating?
Listening to the Poem and A Worksheet w/notes
Discussing what it may be
about in Pair and Share
Watch Video, Read poem Reflection
Watch Video, Reflection Reflection

Prerequisite Concepts and Skill:

Poetry Terms, Ability to analyze, Critical Thinking, WW1 Background Knowledge (Trench
Warfare)

Materials and Resources with References/Sources:

For Teacher For Students

Poem and Audio Poem Worksheet
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et-
decorum-est
Worksheets for the whole class or in Google Classroom to share to
students
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/10-
12/social-studies/en_ss_11_twh_elab.pdf
 https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/10-
12/english-language-arts/en_ela_11_fls_elab.pdf

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/kindergarten-to-
grade-12/teach/teaching-tools/aboriginal-
education/principles_of_learning.pdf

Differentiated Instruction (DI) (Accommodations):

Possible Aboriginal Connections/First Peoples Principles of Learning:

Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story
Learning involves recognizing the consequences of ones actions
Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on
connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).

Lesson Activities:

Teacher Activities Student Activities Pacing

Introduction to WW1 Chemical Weapons: Watch the Video 12m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrHFEPu_ANI

Who: Wilfred Owen Discussion/Note 10m

What: Gas Attacks Taking on
Where: WW1 Trenches Worksheet
When: WW1 (1914-1918)
How is it presented: Poem/Prose
What do you predict is going to happen in the poem? Discussion/ Note
What perspective will it be written from? Taking on
Will it be violent? Worksheet
Who will be depicted in the poem?
Why would the poet write about WW1?
What were looking at today: Listen and read 5min
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et- along to Dulce et
decorum-est Decorum Est
Facilitate Pair and Share of Poem Prompts for discussion Pair and Share, 15min
- Significance of Poetry in WW1 then Class
- Was using Gas an effective/ineffective way to fight the enemy? Discussion/ Note
- Why was using gas immoral in hindsight? Taking on
- What were the effects of Gas on soldiers? Worksheet
- What did you predict/think before the poem was read?
Go over new vocabulary in poem/use of Latin Note Taking on 20min
-Latin phrase is from the Roman poet Horace: It is sweet and Worksheet
fitting to die for ones country.
What do we think of this statement and what do you think
Owen is saying when he uses this at the end of his poem?
What is the tone of the poem?
Why is this specific phrase used?
-Fatigue
-Cursed
-Ecstasy
-fumbling
-floundering
-Guttering
-Smothering
-Writhing
-Gargling
-Incurable
-Zest
-Ardent

Journals for Reflection/Summarize Write a Reflection

-Student write and draw a Reflection on the poem and
-Show Otto Dix Etchings what we learned
-Speak to the importance of Remembrance and Art about WW1
today. Illustrate a
picture of what
the poem may
have looked like
in your head.