Lesson Twelve: “Home Again”
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What's on for today and why?
Now that the students have completed the book, they can think back to their earlier journal entries and predictions as to how the novel would progress. There will be a class discussion about the final chapters of the novel, as well as a miniature “catch up” session for anything the students missed, didn't understand, or wanted to go back to. After the catch up session, the students will have a chance to get in to their groups, where they will find out what they will be doing for their final project.
The end of the novel takes a completely different turn from the way that it started; though the last two chapters of the novel should be discussed, they should not be completely broken down. It is important for a teacher to let her students have their own opinions and predictions as to how a novel will end; those opinions are valuable, and should not be ruined with analysis and interpretation. That being said, the students' ideas for alternate endings will help them greatly in their final project, as they will be working together in order to create a group alternate ending, and will be performing it in front of the class. This taps into the performance aspect of learning, and also gives the students a chance to show their creativity and screenplay writing skills.
What to Do:
1. Tie up the Loose Ends:
As a class, discuss the last two chapters of the novel, but do not go into a ridiculous amount of detail. Let the students have their own opinions and interpretations, as this will help them for their final assignment. Then, after you have discussed the last two chapters, discuss the novel as a whole. This is the time for the students to make any comments, ask any questions, or catch up on what they have missed or did not understand. This will allow all of the students to have a better understanding of the novel itself, and will aid them in completing their final project. Once this “wrap up” session is over, split the class into their groups and tell them their final assignment.
2. Alternate Endings:
Tell the class that they will be creating their own alternate endings to the novel in their groups, and will be performing these alternate endings on Thursday and Friday. Have them write down the requirements for this assignment, as they will be useful in having the group receive a good grade. The requirements will be as follows:
Alternate ending must be at least 3 pages long, dialogue included.
Must incorporate the themes from the book; however, the ending can take a completely different direction from the way things were heading, as the ending in the novel does.
Must create a screenplay for the ending; this can be the two pages that the group comes up with.
Screenplay must include time, place, characters, and resolution. The end of the screenplay must coincide with the plot of the story, however different the ending may be.
Performance must include props, music, and dialogue. Each member of the group must perform.
Performance must be 10 minutes in length.
After writing these requirements down, the groups will be allowed to get to work.
Homework:
For homework, the students will have to complete their final journal entry, as well as work on their final projects. The journal entries will be given a check plus, check, check minus, or zero based on the effort put into the assignment.
