Summary
In this sixth lesson of the "Lord of the Flies" unit, students will analyze the text for symbols of power. Students will categorize evidence from the novel to support the claim that either the seashell or the glasses were the ultimate symbol of power.
Essential Question(s)
How does the author use symbolism to develop characterization and theme?
Snapshot
Engage
Students watch a clip from the movie Thor.
Explore
Students look for examples of power in the novel and build T-Chart.
Explain
Students participate in whole group Tug of War activity.
Extend
Students contribute other symbols of power to a Collaborative Word Cloud.
Evaluate
Students write a One-Pager describing symbols of power from a favorite movie/TV show.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
T-Chart Activity handout (attached; one per student)
Tug of War Slides (attached; optional)
Collaborative Word Cloud generator (such as Mentimeter)
Internet access
Tablets or laptops
Sticky notes
Pens/pencils
Paper (for One-Pager)
Crayons/colored pencils/markers (for One-Pager)
Engage
Introduce the lesson by displaying the title slide 2 from the attached Lesson Slides.
Display slides 3-4. Review the essential question and the learning objectives.
Display slide 5. Play the following movie clip from the movie Thor.
Explore
Display slide 6. Explain the T-Chart strategy to the class. Pass out the attached T-Chart Activity handout. Direct students to look through the novel for examples that prove the seashell and glasses are both symbols of power. Ask them to write their examples on their copies of the T-Chart.
If students struggle to locate examples, suggest they partner with a classmate or work collaboratively in small groups in order to formulate a stronger point of view by sharing evidence from the text.
Explain
Display slide 7. Share the Tug-of-War instructional strategy with students.
Display slide 8. Have students decide which of the two symbols of power in the novel, the conch shell or the glasses, is the better symbol of power.
Have students select a quote from the novel to support their claim.
Ask them to write their quotes on their sticky notes.
Have students go to the board and place their sticky notes in either the column for the shell or the column for the glasses.
Ask them to explain their reasons for choosing their particular quotes.
Extend
Display slide 9. Pose the following question to students: What are some other symbols of power that appear in the text? Remind students that these need to be concrete quotes from the text.
At this time, share the link to the Collaborative Word Cloud generator that you set up earlier with the class. As students type in their examples, guide them to make the observation that the larger the word in the cloud, the more consensus the class has on what the main symbols of power are from the text. Are there any words that surprise you? Stick out to you? Make you wonder?
Evaluate
Display slide 10. Share the One-Pager strategy with students. Slide 10 illustrates what students will create. Explain to them that they will be creating a One-Pager that illustrates a symbol of power from one of their favorite movies.
Display slide 11. The labeled diagram demonstrates how the student example meets the criteria. Each criterion will appear as you continue to advance the slide to allow you to point out the student’s work sample.
Title (student example from Thor uses Mjölnir)
Border around the page that includes the theme (student example from Thor uses the quote, "Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." It is also highlighted in the color red.)
Image of the symbol of power (student example from Thor uses Mjölnir, Thor’s hammer)
Three or more questions with the answers included:
Why was Thor stripped of his power? A: Thor was stripped of his power after he refused to listen to his father and went after the Frost Giants. It was foolish and unsafe.
What information can you infer from Loki’s reaction to Thor being chosen as king? A: I can infer that Loki was jealous that Thor was chosen as king, because of his reaction following the decision. He tried to strip Thor of his power and remove him from Asgard for good!
Draw and label a diagram of the 9 Realms.
A statement about why you believe this to be a symbol of power (student example from Thor: Mjölnir is a symbol of power in the movie Thor. Only the person who is worthy of it can lift it and therefore will have the power of Thor, the God of Thunder.)
Display slide 12 for students while they are working on their One-Pager. The slide shows both the example and the criteria.
Resources
K20 Center. (n.d.). Collaborative Word Clouds. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/103
K20 Center. (n.d.). Mentimeter. Tech Tools. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/tech-tool/645
K20 Center. (n.d.). One-Pager. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/72
K20 Center. (n.d.). T-Chart. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/86
K20 Center. (n.d.). Tug-of-War. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/98
OpenClipart-Vectors. (2013). Rope [Image]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/rope-cord-sisal-string-material-160161/
TopMovieClips. (2017). Thor vs Odin - Odin Takes Thor's Power (Scene) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IfYZZDTays&list=RDCMUClVbhSLxwws-KSsPKz135bw