1. Questions:
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a. Is Jonas's community in The Giver
a real utopia or a dystopia?
b. What is the difference between a
utopia and a dystopia?
c. What happens when a community
loses its right to individual
thought, right to vote, and control?
Could the society that exists in The Giver exist today?
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
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f.
g.
h.
i.
h.
Information Sources
to get you started
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Science Fiction vs. Fantasy
Utopia vs. Dystopia PPT and
more
Euthanasia and Infanticide
Oligarchy
About author Lois Lowery
Kinds of essays
Developing a persuasive essay,
using notes and an outline
Cornell Notes
MSDE Online Resources
Rubric for a persuasive essay
Could the society that exists in The Giver exist today?
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3. Student Activity
Objective: SWBAT study the Lois Lowery novel The Giver in order
to explain ---in both an essay and audio format--- whether the
novel should be classified in the fantasy or science fiction genre
and whether the society in the novel could exist today.
1.
2.
3.
Using resources from SLIDE #2 and others they research,
students will take CORNELL NOTES and develop an FIRST DRAFT
for their essay---Cornell Notes are due:
Essay outline or first draft is due:
Final Essay is due:
Specifics:
· Persuasive Essay will be 2 typed pages, with the 3rd page being
a Works Cited page ( www.citationmachine.net)
•The persuasive essay will cite at least two (2) print sources and (2)
digital sources.
•Include a cover page with your name, date, grade, teachers, but do
NOT count in the page totals.
· Fonts should be either Times New Roman or Arial in 10 point or 12 point.
Margins are 2” or 1.5” all around.
·Among the terms to be discussed in your essay:
1. Utopia
2. Dystopia
3. Fantasy
4. Science fiction
5. Community
6. Infanticide
7. Euthanasia
8. Society
9. Sameness
10. Uniformity
11. Individuality 12. Oligarchy
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Could the society that exists in
The Giver exist today?
4. Assessment Activity:
Objective: SWBAT study the Lois Lowery novel The Giver in order to explain
---in both an essay and audio format--- whether the novel should be
classified in the fantasy or science fiction genre and whether the society in
the novel could exist today.
Specifics:
· Persuasive Essay will be 2 pages in length, with the 3rd page being a
Works Cited page aligned with www.citationmachine.net.----MLA style
•The persuasive essay will cite at least two (2) print sources and (2) digital
sources.
•Include a cover page with your name, date, grade, teachers, but do NOT count in
the page totals.
· Use font Times New Roman or Arial in 10 point or 12 point. Margins are 2” or 1.5” all
around.
·Among the terms to be discussed in your essay:
1. Utopia
2. Dystopia
3. Fantasy
4. Science fiction
5. Community 6. Infanticide 7. Euthanasia 8. Society
9. Sameness 10. Uniformity 11. Individuality 12. Oligarchy
•Once the essay is written, SWBAT record a :30 to :59 second Audio Track
that summarizes their position. On a laptop in Windows, go to Start-- All
Programs- Accessories - Sound Recorder to record and then SAVE to
Ms. Chambers’ “L” drive folder under “Frazier.” To be posted online.
•WMA format = Windows Media Audio
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Could the society that exists in
The Giver exist today?
5.
Extension Activities
From www.teacherweb.com:
1) Find out about attempts to form utopian communities,
such as the early Mormons in Utah, Oneida in New York,
or New Harmony in Indiana. Why is it difficult to
maintain a utopia? Another group might learn more
about communities such as the Amish or the
Mennonites. Why have these communities rejected
certain aspects of modern life? Select your group to
research and create an informative product addressing
the questions stated above as well as any additional you
find that may be of interest to your audience.
2) The community in The Giver prospers entirely without
money, but through sharing resources. Complete
research about the barter system. Are there
groups/communities that still use the barter system?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
You’ll create detailed product providing information
about groups/communities that utilize the barter
system. Provide as many details as you can find – your
final product must contain text and images to inform
your audience.
3) Through genetic engineers, the community is able to
remove the concept of color from the people. What
causes us to see color? What animals cannot see color?
Could there be colors we can’t see, as there are sounds we
can’t hear? Complete your research and create an
entertaining and informative product for the class on
this topic.
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Information Literacy Skill/Process:
How can we tell if we’re visiting a credible
website?
1. Check the website address – is it
from a non-profit organization (.org), a for
profit company (.com), or a government
agency (.gov).
2. Does the website have an “About us”
section to explain who the publishers are?
Can you contact the publishers at a mailing
address and phone number as well as an
email address?
3. Is there a last date of publication/update
to the website?
4. Are there advertisements on the page?
Check the sources we’ve used in this
activity to determine the credibility of the
websites you’ve used.
Could the society that exists in The Giver exist today?
6. Teacher Support Materials
BCPS Curriculum:
Grade 6 GT—Reading/Language Arts. Unit:
Unit Concepts: Identity, Responsibility, History, Morality
Unit Principles:
•Individual identity develops through the perception of communal needs,
responsibility, and one’s abilities.
•The interpretation of history contributes to a development of morality.
Unit Essential Questions:
•How are our identities shaped by our communities?
•What is an individual’s responsibility to her/his community?
•How can the interpretation of personal and communal history shape an
individual’s morality?
•How can an individual shape her/his community?
Common Core State Standards
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to
make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when
writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects
based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the
subject under investigation.
Standards for the 21st Century Learner
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g.
textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather
meaning.
2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply
knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further
investigations.
Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students
3.0 : Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration.
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iTime Frame: 3-4 45 minute class periods + homework
research and writing
Differentiation: MSDE Databases provide text features to
assist in reading (audio read-aloud, embedded
dictionaries). These would be good for use in print
research sources. Remote passwords can be accessed
for the link.
Learning Styles:
Field Dependent, Field Independent, Visual, Auditory, Tactile,
Reflective, Global
Notes to the teacher:
Consult with your School Library Media Specialist to implement
this Slam Dunk Lesson. See Ms. Chambers at Woodlawn Middle
School.
Students can turn in activities by saving Microsoft documents
and copying it to your school’s student drive(directions on each
worksheet)
Graphics in this PPT courtesy ”Google images.”