ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS RESOURCES

LANGUAGE ARTS :: SECONDARY RESOURCES :: RIGHT DIRECTION 2 :: CONNECTING TO THE TRANSCENDENTALISTS

CONNECTING TO THE TRANSCENDENTALISTS

Planning Points

Approximate Time Needed: 2 - 3 days
Correlation to English I SCS 1.02, 4.03, 5.01, 5.02, 6.01
Correlation to NC High School Exit Exam Competencies: C1, C2, C3, C7

Lesson Objectives
- Students will be able to:

  • Connect modern value based writing to Transcendentalist essays
  • Read and comprehend selected Transcendentalist essays
  • Analyze Transcendentalist essays for message and meaning
  • Create a list of personal life lessons

Materials Needed:

  • Copies of "Nature" and "Self Reliance" by Emerson and selected excerpts from Thoreau's Walden.
  • Print or on-line collections of famous quotations, poetry anthologies, song lyrics, etc.
  • Access to word processing programs or colored paper, markers, glue, and magazines.
  • Copies of inspirational books such as "Simple Abundance", "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" and "Life's Little Lessons" (one book for each group in the room)

Description:

Day One

  • Group students to read and review current inspirational books. Each group should outline the books message and driving values. Groups report their findings to the class and identify trends in the underlying values revealed.
  • For homework, students are assigned to read and reflect on "Self Reliance". Having students complete a web graphic organizer can be an active reading tool. The goal would be for them to find the four ways reasons why Emerson encourages self-reliance and to note them in the web.

Day Two

  • Students share their analysis of "Self Reliance". Then, they all read "Nature" and a short excerpt from Walden
  • Working with a partner, students discuss the messages and underlying values in each essay. They create a list of "Transcendentalist Life Laws" based on their analysis. Students share their lists.

Extension

  • Students are assigned to create their own booklet of life lessons. Their book should include quotes, song lyrics, lines from poetry or novels, religious text, and/or films. Encourage students to show the wide range of their interests and beliefs through the text that they include. Additionally, students are required to write a forward to the book that introduces and explains the booklet.
  • The forward should reflect their best writing style and have a strong sense of voice.

Assessment:

  • Collect "Transcendentalist Life Laws" from each set of partners. Evaluate for comprehension and analysis.
  • Provide students with a rubric for their "Life Lesson" booklets that evaluates appropriateness and variety of researched texts, visual appeal of the book (encourage them to illustrate each quote), writing style and mechanics, and neatness or presentation. Alternately, students could discuss and develop the rubric as a class activity as well.

Additional Notes:

  • Ideally, the booklet could be constructed during class if you have access to a computer lab. Students could use online sources to research and collect the texts. If these resources are not available, it can be a homework project. Students should have at least two days to produce the booklet.
  • Be sure to encourage students to include material that is appropriate for a school audience.
  • The forward is used as a means of teaching voice and style in writing.

Teacher's Notes:

 

<< Back | Table of Contents | Next >>