E3T Lesson Plan Creator
Introduction to the Canterbury Tales
Last Updated: Jan-14-2010
Developed By
Carrie Wozniak
Sue Hardin
Lesson Title
Introduction to the Canterbury Tales
Length of Lesson
2-3 (50 minute class periods)
Lesson Unit
The Power of Language to Transform Lives (MDE 11.1)
Grade
9-12
Subject
ELA
Strand
Literature and Culture
Michigan Content Expectations
CE 2.1.3 , CE 2.1.4 , CE 2.1.7 , CE 3.1.4 , CE 3.2.2 , CE 3.3.1 , CE 3.3.2
Keywords
Chaucer, Middle English, Canterbury Tales, Poetry
Materials
Laptop/Computer
Internet Access
Speakers
Screen/Projector
Highlighters/Post-its
Audio
Abstract
The following lesson is a part of a unit found in the Grade 11 - Michigan Merit Curriculum. It
is based up the theme: In the transformation from oral language to the written word, universal truths of human
nature were formalized.
The unit would begin with activities regarding the process of transformation and the reading
of the anchor texts Beowulf and the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. The following lessons
are the first few days of The Pardoner’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Big Idea(s)
In the transformation from oral language to the written word, universal truths of human nature
were formalized.
Language is powerful.
Storytelling is a tradition still found in our culture.
Essential Questions
Where will I find wisdom?
How do I demonstrate that I am open-minded enough to learn from my experiences? How do the heroes of literature reflect the values of the time?
How is storytelling important to culture?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to: Determine end rhyme and internal rhyme.
Identify different types of poetry and explain how specific features influence meaning and
story.
Analyze Chaucer’s work, his significance to literature, and the transformation of language.
Identify and interpret a song or poem using end rhyme.
Summative Assessment
Students will:
Find another artist who uses similar rhyme schemes and reflect on the message/universal truth
of the artist. Include the following:
- Name of the artist
- Name of the song
- Sample lines of the song illustrating both an end rhyme and an internal rhyme.
- Message/Universal Truth
Example:
Artist: Notorious B.I.G.
Song: Mo Money More Problems
Lines:
Ten years from now we'll still be on top Yo, I thought I told you that we won't stop
Message: Greed is the root of evil.
Students can either blog or write out their post.
Resource(s) available for Summative Assessment(at end of Lesson Plan)
Lesson Opening
Students will listen to the song "Mo Money More Problems" by P Diddy.
They will take a moment and respond to the following Quick Write.
"The love of money is the root of all evil," the Bible tells us. Write down your thoughts about the desire for money and the ways in which it influences
human behavior. In what situations is the desire for money evil or harmful? When does the
desire seem normal or legitimate to you?
Share Out:
In what situations is the desire for money evil or harmful? When does the desire seem normal
or legitmate to you? What does the song and pictures represent? What do you notice from these
images and words?
Resource(s) available for Lesson Opening(at end of Lesson Plan)
Lesson Opening Co-teaching Plan
Co-teacher will connect to big ideas and examples of the modern day storyteller.
If needed, co-teacher will chart out the ideas generated from the quick-write.
Exploration
Through class discussion, students will then think about why we rhyme words. When do we
rhyme? What are some of the kinds of rhyming that we do?
Lead students to a discussion on the following vocabulary:
End Rhyme: rhymed words at the ends of lines
Internal Rhyme: rhymed words in the middle of the lines.
Students will listen and follow along to the Rap Version of the Pardoner's Tale by Baba
Brinkman. (Play audio to the class). Preview and explore Baba's site with the class. As they
listen to Baba's rap, they will identify (internal and end rhyme). See Handouts.
Think-Pair-Share:
With your partner, share examples of internal and end rhyme you identified in the rap version
of The Pardoner's Tale.
Share with the group.
Resource(s) available for Exploration(at end of Lesson Plan)
Exploration Co-teaching Plan
Using Chart paper, the co-teacher will write down examples the class discussion on end and
internal rhyme.
During the think-pair-share, the co-teacher will mark and lift the text with examples of end and
internal rhyme (This can be done using an elmo).
Check for Understanding
Quick check for understanding of end and internal rhyme using the Classroom Response
System.
(See power point/clicker slides).
Resource(s) available for Check for Understanding 1(at end of Lesson Plan)
Check for Understanding Co-teaching Plan
Co-teacher will help clarify any misunderstandings.
Explanation
Students will read and review Handout: The Transformation of Language and the Pardoner's
Tale (See attached).
This handout will provide a summary of the tale, explanation of Baba's Brinkman's work, and a
table of the passage from the original Middle English version of the Pardoner's Tale contrasted
with the rap that adapted from it.
Students will be asked: What do you notice about the rhyme scheme in these two pieces? What
do you notice about vocabulary?
Students should highlight similar words between the two pieces.
Resource(s) available for Explanation(at end of Lesson Plan)
Explanation Co-teaching Plan
Co-teacher will provide clarification on how Chaucer used the same kind of language as Baba
Brinkman.
Point out other similar examples of rhyming: rapping, conversations, jingles, etc.
Check for Understanding (2)
Have students complete a ticket out the door which reflects on the following questions:
How has the oral tradition of Chaucers' time remained the same? How has language changed
since the time of Chaucer?
Check for Understanding Co-teaching Plan (2)
Co-teacher will share out a few random selected tickets to the class.
Extended Practice
Students will have an opportunity to explore Baba Brinkman's website for additional tales and
visual pictures to learn about Chaucer's time period and stories.
Resource(s) available for Extended Practice(at end of Lesson Plan)
Closing
For closing, the teacher will share past student examples of music that has been collected for
this assignment.
They will use this as an opportunity to model the summative assessment.
Closing Co-teach Plan
The co-teacher will summarize the big ideas and recap the objectives of the extended practice
on the blog/podcast site.
Resources
Title: Pardoner's Tale - Quickwrite
Category: Document
Section: Lesson Opening
Description: Handout
File: PardonersTalequickwrite.doc
Title: Baba Brinkman's Rap - "The Pardoner's Tale"
Category: -- Select a Category -Section: Exploration
Description: Baba Brinkman performs "The Pardoner's Tale."
URL: http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/chaucer/video_external_large_pardoner.asp
Title: The Pardoner's Tale - Blog/Summary
Category: -- Select a Category -Section: Summative Assessment
This site hosts the summary of "The Pardoner's Tale" and the place for student's to post
Description: their summative assessment.
URL: http://swiftpens.mypodcast.com/2007/06/Summary_of_The_Pardoners_Tale-25458.html
Title: Babasword - Baba Brinkman's Website
Category: -- Select a Category -Section: Exploration
Description:
URL: http://www.babasword.com/
Title: The Pardoner's Tale - CRS Power Point
Category: Document
Section: Check for Understanding 1
Description:
File: Check for Understanding.ppt
Title: Audio - Baba Brinkman's version of The Pardoner's Tale
Category: Video or Audio
Section: Extended Practice
Description:
Title: Audio of The Pardoner's Tale
Category: Web Site
Section: Explanation
Description:
URL: http://aspirations.english.cam.ac.uk/converse/chaucer/audio.acds
Title: Explanation of Baba Brinkman and Chaucer
Category: Document
Section: Explanation
Description: Handout for the Explanation Activity
File: Explanation.doc
Title: Text of Baba Brinkman's Rap The Pardoner's Tale
Category: Document
Section: Exploration
Description:
File: The Pardoner's Tale - Rap Version.doc
Title:
Category: Document
Section: Extended Practice
Description: