Summary
In this introductory lesson to the "Lord of the Flies" unit of study, students learn what a microcosm is, what its significance to this story is, and how to build a microcosm of their own. The author's use of the microcosm to symbolize human nature sets the stage for the unit and focuses on author William Golding's use of symbolism to develop characterization and theme throughout the novel.
Essential Question(s)
How does the author use symbolism to develop characterization and theme?
Snapshot
Engage
Students complete a digital survey about emergency items and analyze responses.
Explore
Students read and highlight a related passage.
Explain
Students revisit emergency items and make connections with symbolism.
Extend
Students build a microcosm.
Evaluate
Students participate in a Gallery Walk and complete a Muddiest Point as a reflection.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Lord of the Flies as Microcosm handout (attached; one per student)
Microcosm Checklist (attached; one per student)
Materials for building a microcosm
Pens/pencils
Highlighters
Sticky notes
Emergency Items Padlet (students to make)
Engage
Begin by displaying from the attached Lesson Slides the title slide on slide 2 and explain to students that this lesson is the start of a new novel unit. Share the guiding question and objectives for this lesson on slides 3-4.
Display slide 5 and pose the question to the students: "What three things (nearby, that you can grab easily) would you bring with you in an emergency situation?" Share with students access to a Padlet. Ask students to share their thoughts using the Padlet. Advise them that their responses will be posted publicly with the class. Give the students time to reflect and enter their answers to the Padlet.
Make sure you keep the data collected in the Padlet for each student. They will revisit their 3 items in a lesson at the end of the unit.
After all the responses are captured, display the results. Give students time to read over and reflect on the responses they see. After students have reviewed classmate’s responses, show slide 6. Ask the students analyze the results using the strategy I Notice, I Wonder.
Some questions to guide the discussion are as follows:
Are there any patterns that you can see?
Are there any items that you notice only boys/girls/other want to bring with them?
Are there any items that you see that make you wonder if it's really something someone should be bringing with them?
What are some questions you have about items some of your classmates listed?
Use these guiding questions, as well as some that you come up with organically as the lesson plays out, to discuss what students would bring with them in an emergency.
Explore
Distribute the attached Lord of the Flies as Microcosm handout and highlighters. Display slide 7 and describe annotating strategy Categorical Highlighting. Instruct students to highlight the following as they read the passage:
Pink— Identifies their understanding of a microcosm;
Blue—Identifies their understanding of symbolism;
Yellow—Identifies any connections they find between microcosms and symbolism.
Give students ample time to read, highlight, and reflect.
After students are done reading and highlighting, display slide 8 and have them work with a partner nearby to discuss the following questions:
What is a microcosm?
How does it relate to symbolism?
What do you think Lord of the Flies is a microcosm of?
Make a prediction: what might this story be about/include?
Explain
Revisit the Padlet created in the Engage with the three objects students decided to take with them in an emergency situation. Display slide 9 and instruct students to reflect on their objects and how they might represent them.
Slide 9 shows three examples of items that students might bring. Instruct students to complete a modified One-Pager to explain why they chose the objects they did and how they represent them in writing.
Have them find and reproduce images of the items on the front side of the page. Have them explain how the items relate and represent them on the back of the page.
Once students have completed their One-Pager, move to slides 10-11 or slides 12-17 to provide a concrete explanation of the concepts of microcosm and symbolism.
Extend
Move to slide 18. Have students plan and build their own microcosm that reflects the world as they see it. Print out copies of the attached Microcosm Checklist handout and distribute to each student. Ask them to check off the required elements as they add them to their projects.
This activity has two (2) different options to choose from.
Once the students have completed the microcosm, instruct them to write a paragraph description that explains the reasoning for each item chosen.
Evaluate
Move to slide 19 and instruct students to take some time to view their classmates’ microcosm creations. Consider setting a timer for a specific amount of time for viewing. You can find a variety of visual timers on the K20 Center YouTube page. Let students know that after viewing the microcosms, they will be asked to reflect on what they have learned.
After the Gallery Walk/Carousel, display slide 20. Ask students to write out what they saw as the Muddiest Point on a sticky note, a blank piece of paper, or digital submission. Ask them, "What about microcosm and symbolism is still a little muddy, or confusing, for you? Write that on your sheet and turn it in." This will serve as an Exit Ticket for the lesson.
Resources
Amos, E. (2012.). Rock Candy Sticks. [Digital image]. Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rock-Candy-Sticks.jpg
Hassan, M. (2018). Nfl logo. [Digital image]. https://pixabay.com/vectors/nfl-national-football-league-logo-3644686/
K20 Center. (n.d.). Categorical highlighting. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/192
K20 Center. (n.d.). Exit ticket and bell ringers. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/125
K20 Center. (n.d.). Gallery walk/carousel. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/118
K20 Center. (n.d.). I notice, I wonder. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/180
K20 Center. (n.d.). Muddiest point. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/109
K20 Center. (n.d.). One-Pager. Strategy. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/72
K20 Center. (n.d.). Padlet. Tech Tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/1077
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Pixabay. (2016). American Flag. [Digital image]. https://pixabay.com/photos/flag-america-usa-states-1291945/
Pixabay. (2012). Animals. [Digital image]. https://pixabay.com/vectors/dove-peace-flying-olive-branch-41260/
Pixabay. (n.d.) Evacuation sign. [Digital image]. https://pixabay.com/photos/evacuation-sign-signage-safety-1738375/
Pixabay. (2012). Smartphone. [Digital image]. https://pixabay.com/vectors/iphone-cellphone-smartphone-mobile-37856/
Pixy#org. (n.d.). Weather Symbol on a Hoodie as a Picture for Clipart. [Digital image]. https://pixy.org/996909/
Wikimedia. (2021). Raymond James Stadium. [Digital image]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raymond_James_Stadium_(2021)_A.jpg
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