A Tale of Two Cities: Pre-Reading Lesson
A Tale of Two Cities: Pre-Reading Lesson
Grade Level: 9-10
Subject: English
Duration: 45 Minute Lesson
DOK Level: 2
Indiana Standard:
9-10.RL.1 Read a variety of literature within a range of complexity appropriate for grades 9-10. By the end of grade 9, students interact with texts proficiently and independently at the low end of the range and with scaffolding as needed for texts at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, students interact with texts proficiently and independently.
9-10.RV.3.2 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a nonfiction text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; evaluate the effectiveness of specific word choice
Common Core Standard:
Description:
Students will gain background and historical information on A Tale of Two Cities and Charles Dickens. Students will begin building their foundation of vocabulary knowledge to increase comprehension of the text and its historical language.
Objective:
- Students will use close reading skills to locate information within a nonfiction text
- Students will gain background knowledge of A Tale of Two Cities
- Students will apply vocabulary terms towards their understanding of the text
Essential Question:
How does my understanding of the French Revolution determine my knowledge of the setting of A Tale of Two Cities?
Procedure:
- The teacher will introduce the themes and historical background of A Tale of Two Cities in a Google Slideshow while the students take notes.
- The class will read a biographical article over the life of Charles Dickens in order to gain background knowledge on A Tale of Two Cities.
- The students will use their close reading skills by highlighting words they don’t know in pink, and main points in blue.
- After the class has finished reading together, the students will work on a vocabulary homework assignment to increase comprehension of the text when they begin A Tale of Two Cities in the next class period.
Product or Assessment: The students will read together as a class, and then complete a vocabulary assignment to be turned into the teacher at the beginning of the next class period.
Modification: Give the students fewer vocab words, and look at context clues within the text instead of building their own sentences using the terms.
Enrichment: Students will do their own research over the French Revolution instead of taking notes from a presentation by the teacher.