- Author:
- Michael Griffith, MSDE Admin, Kathleen Maher-Baker
- Subject:
- English Language Arts
- Material Type:
- Lesson Plan
- Level:
- Middle School
- Grade:
- 7
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
- Language:
- English
"Dreams" by Langston Hughes
"I Have a Dream"
Grade 7: Consequences Lesson Plan #2
Overview
Lesson Overview |
Each student will write a journal entry about how motivation and perspective influence a dream. In addition, students will focus on how these influences can lead to a flawed dream. Students will read, analyze, and discuss the poem, “Dreams” by Langston Hughes, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, excerpts from Chasing Lincoln’s Killer—Introduction—From 1861 through 1865 and pages 138-139, and the article, “Booth’s Reason for Assassination” by Christopher Hamner. Students will write an essay about John Wilkes Booth. In successive days, students will draft, revise, edit, and publish their essays.
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Image source: "Dream" by EvelynGiggles on Flickr.com. Licensed with CC-BY-2.0
Day 1
Day 1
Consider using a WEB 2.0 tool to display student responses.
Standards RL.7.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. RI 7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. RI 7.2 Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text. RI 7.3 Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events). SL 7.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on the others' ideas and expressing their own clearly. |
Warm-Up: What does it mean to have a dream? Can a dream be flawed?
Read the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes.
- Why does Langston Hughes think dreams are important?
Video source: "I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King .Jr " from Rare Facts on YouTube.com
- What is Dr. King's dream?
- What was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s motivation and perspective as it relates to his dream?
Reread the introduction from Chasing Lincoln’s Killer on pages 138-139
- Determine Booth’s motivation and perspective as it relates to his dream.
Read the article "Booth's Reason for Assassination"
- Discuss how Booth's goal was influenced by his perspective.
Day 2
Extended Writing:
Compare and contrast the goals of Martin Luther King Jr. and John Wilkes Booth based on their perspective and motivation.
Consider the following questions when writing your essay:
- Can both the motivations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Wilkes Booth be considered dreams based on the Langston Hughes poem "Dreams?"
- If so, how does motivation and perspective lead to a flawed or righteous dream?
- Did the dreams of these two men have consequences both personally and for the United States?
Be sure to utlize all of the sources from the previous day.
Standards:
W 7.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
W 7.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Extended writing:
Compare and contrast the goals of Martin Luther King Jr. and John Wilkes Booth based on their perspective and motivation.
Consider the following questions when writing your essay:
- Can both the motivations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Wilkes Booth be considered dreams based on the Langston Hughes poem "Dreams?"
- How does motivation and perspective lead to a flawed or righteous dream?
- Did the dreams of these two men have consequences personally and for the United States?
Be sure to utlize all of the sources from the previous day.