Visualizing and Analyzing the American Dream through The Great Gatsby Facilitator: give students a full to half sheet of printer paper with a number on it (however many students are in class- for example, 15 students in class, put a number 1-15 on the sheets of paper. This keeps the students’ identity anonymous, and they … The Great Gatsby
Plot Summary: Maggie admires and likes her biology teacher, but she is against dissection and refuses to dissect a worm, declaring to the class that killing is wrong. Some of her classmates support her and some don’t, and her best friend agrees with her but doesn’t stand up to the teacher herself. Maggie finds that … Standing Up to Mr. O., Claudia Mills
Chapter 12, “The Mirror of Erised” Harry discovers the “Mirror of Erised,” a mystical mirror that shows us the “deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts.” The mirror shows Harry images of himself surrounded by a loving family, and he becomes entranced by the images he sees, wanting to return to the mirror again … Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
This lesson plan is available as a PDF attachment in the link above. It is best suited for high school classrooms, but can be used in some middle school settings. This lesson plan can be split up in multiple ways, including picking which of the offered discussion prompts or exercises you would like to do. … Plato’s Ring of Gyges
The Catcher in the Rye and the Philosophy of Innocence Day 1 Day 2 (optional)
Plot Summary: Charlotte’s Web opens at the Arable family farm. A sow has just given birth to piglets and Mr. Arable is preparing to slaughter the runt. His daughter, Fern, pleads for her father to let the small piglet live. She claims it would be an injustice to kill him simply for being small. Mr. … Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White
Plot Summary: Meg Murry, her youngest brother Charles Wallace, and their new friend Calvin join forces with three intergalactic beings – Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who — to rescue Mr. Murry, Meg’s and Charles’ father, from IT, a source of evil and total mental control that devours individuality and self-perception. Discussion Questions:
Lesson Plan: The Real Thief raises questions about friendship and loyalty, as well as the meaning of justice. The book also includes an argument that students can analyze. In the story, Gawain, a goose and the Chief Guard of the Royal Treasury, is blamed when jewels from the Royal Treasury go missing. The Prime Minister, … The Real Thief, by William Steig
Unmasking Political Persuasion: Logical Fallacies in Government Campaigns Materials Needed Video clips of political campaign commercials, Logical Fallacies Definitions Handout, Graphic organizer for commercial analysis. Steps Involved Fallacy Breakdown (15 minutes): Pick segments from these videos to explore different fallacies: Fallacies: Discuss real-world examples of each fallacy. Application to Political Commercials (30–45 minutes): Show political … Unmasking Political Persuasion
Previous Knowledge Students Should Have about the Declaration of Independence Materials Needed Document with quotes from Locke, Jefferson and Franklin about virtue in relation to citizenship, governance and the importance of education (also attached at the end of the lesson). Day One Opening (10 minutes) Provide the students with a visual of the two similar … Virtue and the Social Contract
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