Technology Infused Lesson Plan

Revisions:
In the "Rationale" section, I added more about limitations, instead of just listing the affordances of the color palette tool. I also updated the accommodations to include not just ELL's but also students with various needs. I also mentioned their flipped learning homework assignment in which students were supposed to find similes and metaphors in popular music. I attached that sheet to the bottom of the plan. I also updated my Google slides, adding a slide with all the quotes together, as well as a slide about tone. I added some more emphasis on tone in the lesson plan, too. I made sure to add a link to the color palette website and instructions on how to use it.

LESSON PLAN

PLANNING

Date: March 9, 2020 Class and Grade Level: 9th

Title/Subject of Lesson: Figurative Language in “Speak” Lesson planned for ___80_____ minutes

State (or Common) Core Curriculum Standard(s): (Reading Lit. Standard 4) Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone)

Learning Targets(s):  Students can find examples of figurative language in Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, “Speak.” Students can use technology to demonstrate an understanding of figurative language, especially that of simile and metaphor

Assessment(s):  Students will use a graphic organizer to determine the meaning of specific examples of figurative language in the novel. Students will create a color palette based on the tone of a specific simile or metaphor from the novel.

Concept(s) to Be Taught: figurative language, similes, metaphors

Rationale: I selected online color palette creation to support students in understanding the use and meaning of figurative language in Anderson’s “Speak”.  The affordances of this tool allow students to consolidate their understanding of figurative language in a clear, visual way. Students will be limited to representing their ideas only through color and color names, which will be challenging.  As a result, students are able to achieve curricular standards and learning outcomes by determining the meaning of words in the novel.

Materials Needed: I will use a powerpoint presentation to present definitions of key terms and examples of figurative language. I will need to access my Apple Music app to play songs. Students will need Chromebooks or laptops and internet access. 11x17 posters for each student and markers/colored pencils, in case technology fails us and we need to create color palettes by hand.

Link to Google Slides for this lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1c74TAoNMc6rcGjjUCQoLO5QhgsZB2qRbwq10oviVzGI/edit?usp=sharing

Learning Strategies to Be Used:  Figurative language graphic organizer, class discussion, color palette creative process 

Differentiation and Accommodations: I will provide the novel in another language for students whose first language is not English. I will provide examples of similes and metaphors in other languages for those students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.Students with auditory or visual challenges will be seated near the front of the classroom so they can see and hear more easily.  If students are struggling with the concepts of figurative language, I could provide more examples for them, or have them work with a partner who understands well. I will work with each student to accommodate their learning needs.

PERFORMING

Announcements:

Continuation from Previous Lesson: You’ll remember that last time we talked about figurative language, particularly metaphors and similes. Today we will be looking for examples of those in our class novel, “Speak,”, and applying our understanding of them to a fun, creative activity.

Lesson Presentation: 

A) Preparing for Learning: 

Ok everyone, as you came in today, you may have noticed I was playing a couple of songs on the speakers. Did they sound familiar? You should have listened to them as your homework (flipped learning assignment). We’re going to start off by reviewing that today. Please get out your chromebooks and pull up your google documents where you wrote one example of a simile or a metaphor from each song. 

(Students should have listened to: “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Everything” by Michael Buble, “I’m Already There” by Lonestar, “Titanium” by David Guetta, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, and “Drops of Jupiter” by Train, and then filled in an online worksheet where they were to write one specific lyric from each song that employed an example of figurative language. Worksheet at the end of lesson plan.)

B) Directing the Learning: 

Modeling/Examples: 

Before I have you share some examples of figurative language that you found, I want to know whether you understand two key definitions. Last time we talked about similes and metaphors. Will you give me a thumbs-up if you feel that you could explain simile/metaphors to a partner, no problem; a thumbs-down if you have no idea; a thumb in the middle if you think you could recognize the difference, but don’t think you could explain it. (Ask for a volunteer to explain what metaphor and simile are in their own words). (Direct comparison between two unlike things--using like or as, for simile, not for metaphor) Great job! That’s exactly right! (Show definition slides). And here are a couple of examples of each. (Read examples on slides)

 What is an example of figurative language that you found in one of the songs that we listened to last night? (Make sure you identify the song, the lyric and the type of figurative language. Wait for responses). Great example! How does this piece of figurative language add to the song or the overall message and feeling that it seems to be portraying? (Talk about how examples of metaphor, simile and symbols help make comparisons and create images, making it easier for us to visualize). Ask for several more examples of figurative language in the songs.

Just like figurative language can be effective in music, it can also be found in most of the books we read! You have read “The First Marking Period” of the novel, “Speak,” and today we are going to look at some examples of figurative language in the book. Let’s look at the very first chapter, page 5. Remember, this is Melinda’s first day of high school, and she has just walked in. Will someone read this quote? (On the powerpoint slide--linked here) “I stand in the center aisle of the auditorium, a wounded zebra in a National Geographic special, looking for someone, anyone, to sit next to.” What type of figurative language is being used here? (Call on someone. If no one answers, give them a few options of what it could be and ask them to identify which it is.) (metaphor). Great, how do you know it’s a metaphor? (Because it explicitly says that Melinda IS a wounded zebra. It directly compares her to another thing that we don’t typically relate to a 9th grader.) How does this figure of speech help us as readers to understand the main character better? What do we learn about her? Why might the author have used this type of figure of speech in this situation? What does it add to our understanding of the novel as a whole? (Repeat the same exercise with the next 2 quotes about Mr. Freeman and about Pop-Tart). These examples of figurative language all contribute to the overall TONE of the novel. What do you guys think of when you hear the word tone? Are you familiar with that word? Maybe your parents have said, “Don’t use that tone of voice with me!” This is because tone refers to an attitude or overall feeling, even in literature! (Show slide and discuss definition of tone and examples). How do the examples of figurative language that we discussed add to the overall tone of the novel?

Guided Practice

Now you are going to create a color palette with a partner. Together, you will pick one example of a simile or metaphor from the novel. You will need to determine the meaning of the metaphor or simile and its effect on the overall tone of the passage or the novel as a whole. You will then need to think of what colors might represent that tone. You will then create a color palette of 3 or 4 colors on colourlovers.com. You will need to name each of their custom colors in a way that coincides with the tone of the novel and the meaning of the simile/metaphor.

Directions
I will project my computer screen onto the board and show you how to make your own color palette.

1. Go to ColourLovers.com
2. You do not need an account to create a palette, but you can create one if you’d like to save your work. If not, simply click the green button at the top that says “create,” which will bring up a dropdown. Click the word “palette”
3. A color block will appear, and you can then start toying with the various controls and options to adjust brightness, saturation, warmth, balance, etc.. 
4. Each “+” sign will allow you to add a new color. You will need to create 3-4 different colors.
5. You will then name the palette in the box that says: “Palette Name”
6. In the description box, make sure to give each of the different colors a distinct name that applies to the meaning of the figurative language and to the tone of the novel.

C) Reinforcing the Learning: 

Have a couple of people share their color palettes and the names of the colors.

ATAWT 

I could have everyone or a few more groups share their work.

REFLECTING

[Questions to ask yourself, the teacher: How successful was this lesson? What worked and why? What didn’t work as well as you’d hoped—and why? What can you change to make it even more successful for the next class? What will you keep, what will you delete, what will you modify?] 

Figurative Language in Popular Music

For this assignment, you will listen to each of the following songs while paying special attention to the figurative language you hear. Write down AT LEAST one example of a simile or a metaphor from each song. (List more if you can!)

Remember, a simile is a direct comparison between two things, introduced by the words “like” or “as.” A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things, without using “like” or “as.”

Simile example: Bob ran like the wind.

Metaphor example: Becca was an open book.

“Everything” by Michael Buble	Simile: Metaphor:
“Firework” by Katy Perry	Simile: Metaphor:
“I’m Already There” by Lonestar	Simile: Metaphor:
“Titanium” by David Guetta	Simile: Metaphor:
“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift	Simile: Metaphor:
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train	Simile: Metaphor:
SONG OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING: ___________	Simile: Metaphor: