Activity Title - "Unforgettable Character"

Goal/Objective

Students will recognize the main idea of a story, understand unfamiliar words in context, make inferences, and integrate information from outside the passage.

Lesson Outline

Review: [1] the use of context clues to guess meanings of unfamiliar words, [2] recognizing the author's point of view, [3] inferring information.

Introduction

Pass out Reader's Digest article and introduce activity.

Activity

Read the article, watching for traits that made the subject of the article special to the author.

Make a list of at least 5 words used in the article that are unfamiliar to the reader. Guess their probable meanings, based on context clues. Look up words in dictionary to verify or adjust. Infer what impact the author wants his own life to have on others.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Instructor leads discussion as to the level of impact the article has had on the students.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

• "My Most Unforgettable Character" article from Reader's Digest
• Notebook paper and pen

Extension Activity

Write a letter to one of your own role models, letting him or her know how you have been impacted.

ESE Accommodations

List five descriptive words that can be used in the figurative language phrase

"as __________ as __________"

Real-Life Connection

No man is an island unto himself alone, but rather a part of the whole. We are knowingly or unknowingly impacting others, and likewise, they are influencing us.

Activity Title "Unforgettable Character"

Introduction

Say: For years, Reader's Digest has featured a monthly article, called "My Most Unforgettable Character." Usually it is written by a well-known person about an unknown person who has impacted that person's life. Typically, it is written in first-person singular. We have recently discussed "point of view" and various styles of writing. I am going to pass out copies of one of the recent articles, with which we will do some activities.

Main Activity

Say: First, read the article. As you do so, watch for the unique traits that made this person special to the author. Write down any words with which you are unfamiliar. (Minimum of 5 words.) Write what you think their probable meanings might be, based on context clues. Look up dictionary meanings of words and alter as needed. From your observations write an educated guess or inference about what impact the author wants his own life to have on others.

Closure/Conclusion

Say: If you had known the author's role model, would this person have had the same impact on you?

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Write a letter to one of your own role models, letting him or her know how you have been impacted.