Dante Yacobucci

Rocky Mountain High School

U.S. Literature
Grade 11
Lesson Plan #2

Unit 2: Into the Wild (Transcendentalism) Length: 90 Minutes Date: 10/12/17

Standards: 11.2.2.a. i. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of
what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including
determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. (CCSS: RI.11-12.1)
o 11.4.1.f. f. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research. (CCSS: W.11-12.9)

Learning Target: I can determine the main themes of a text and cite textual evidence to
support my thematic statement.

Success Criteria: I will read an excerpt from Emersons Nature and determine one of the
authors prevailing themes. Then, I will cite a textual example that supports this theme on
padlet.com and explain why it encompasses that theme.

Assessments:
o Pre: Students will answer the following questions on a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern thought?
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work, etc.)

o Formative: Students will answer and respond to the following questions on

padlet.com
A sentence that is hard to understand
Why?
A sentence that resonated with you
Why?
A sentence that encapsulates one of Emersons themes
Explain

o Formative: Ticket-Out-the-Door: Students will answer the following questions on

a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern thought?
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work, etc.)

o Summative: Some of the content covered today will be on the unit test.
o Formative: Students will write their own found poems if there is enough time
These poems will demonstrate understanding of one of Emersons themes,
while using words/excerpts from Nature

Inquiry Questions:
o What should a thematic statement look like?
Dante Yacobucci
Rocky Mountain High School
U.S. Literature
Grade 11
o How does one determine the central idea of a text?
o Which elements of a text demonstrate theme?
o How did transcendentalism impact American life?
o What was Emersons role in transcendentalism?
o How did the transcendentalists differ from the rationalists and puritans?

Differentiation:
o Students will receive skeleton notes for the note taking portion of this lesson. This
will allow students who struggle with note taking and organization to practice
these skills. This is a form of scaffolding, as I adjust the note taking strategies as
students develop confidence and pacing.
o If I find that students are having a hard time determining the themes or citing
evidence, I will model a specific example for them to that they have a better idea
of what the process is.

Materials:
o Skeleton notes
o Notecards
o Laptops
o Lined paper
o Writing utensils
o U.S. Literature Textbooks
o Binders
o Vocabulary Books and Worksheets

Procedures:
o 5 Min: Attendance and Stamp Daily Grammar Practice
(Daily Grammar Practice (DGP) is Ms. Druses way of teaching students
fundamental grammar skills that will translate into their compositions)

o 5 Min: Independent work time on Advancing Vocabulary Skills

Students student vocabulary words from this book independently on
Mondays in order to prepare for exercises and assessments later in the
week)

o 5 Min: Pre-Assessment Notecards

Students will answer the following questions on a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern
thought?
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work,
etc.)

o 30 Min: Skeleton Notes

Dante Yacobucci
Rocky Mountain High School
U.S. Literature
Grade 11
Students will take notes on my lecture/discussion of Transcendentalism
and Emerson

o 5 Min: Brain Break

This is an opportunity for students to stand up, destress, and recollect
themselves for the next activity

o 10 Min: Read excerpt from Emersons Nature

o 15 Min: Padlet Discussion Activity

Students will answer and discuss these questions on padlet.com
A sentence that is hard to understand
o Why?
A sentence that resonated with you
o Why?
A sentence that encapsulates one of Emersons themes
o Explain

o 10 Min: Found Poem Activity

Students will write their own found poems if there is enough time

o 5 Min: Ticket-Out-The-Door
Students will answer the same questions as the pre assessment in order to
show growth.