Unit/Lesson Plan Template (modified from MTS Lesson Plan Template)
Name: Reva Potter
Subject area: Language Arts
Grade level: 7th
Time frame: 3 weeks
Lesson title: 20th Century Historical Fiction
Brief lesson/unit Summary/Description
This lesson focuses on the study of the historical fiction novel, Forbidden City, by William Bell. It is a young
adult novel wherein the protagonist becomes involved with reporters during the Tiananmen Square protests
and government crackdown in the spring of 1989. Student learning emphasizes connections to their geography
curriculum and the impact of culture on literature.
Essential Questions to guide this unit/lesson and focus teaching and learning:
How are literary protagonists and real-life protagonists similar and different?
How does setting affect the characters and themes of a novel?
State Content Standard/Benchmark addressed http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/index.asp
7.R.4.1 Students can identify recurring themes in text from diverse cultures, time periods, and
historical events.
State Educational Technology Standard/Benchmark addressed
http://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/NCLB/index.asp
21st Century Skill(s)/Theme(s) addressed (see excel spreadsheet
http://sdmasterteachers.wikispaces.com/Presentation+Handouts )
1.GA.3 Understand other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages
2.CC.1 Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively through speaking and writing
3.ICT.2 Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information, and the possession of a fundamental understanding
of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information
Students will understand (lesson/unit objectives):
Students will understand universal themes and their connections to our lives.
Students will apply background knowledge of culture and historical events to comprehension of a novel.
Students will organize information to create a presentation on novel theme and inter-novel connections for the
class.
Technology & Web 2.0 resources needed (hardware and software, websites)
Students will need access to computers at the beginning and end of the unit for research on websites for
background information and for creation of class presentation on theme of novel.
Online collaboration tool: GoogleDocs (docs.google.com) for project editing teams
My website: rp029.k12.sd.us
My site links to the BBC Tiananmen timeline http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8057148.stm the China
Guide http://www.thechinaguide.com/index.php and Frontline, “Tank Man”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/view/?utm_campaign=searchpage&utm_medium=videose
arch&utm_source=videosearch
Procedure (learning activities)/ lessons of unit
Students will be using both independent and classroom study of the novel, Forbidden City, by William Bell.
Before reading, students will research using online resources in language arts to familiarize themselves with
China, and particularly Beijing. They will concurrently be studying Asia, specifically China, in their geography
class. When reading and reflecting on the book, students will use a journal based on the BBC timeline for
events of spring ’89 in Beijing. Student study whole class will also include video of Tiananamen square,
student protests, and current politics of civil rights in China. At the conclusion of the book, students will create
a project to present to the class based on a major theme in the novel, including human rights, government
systems, Chinese culture, education, and impact of peaceful protest.
Strategies that can teach any student
Discussion
Drawing
Field Trip
Games
Graphic Organizers
Humor
Manipulative
Metaphor & Simile
Mnemonic Device
Movement
Music
Project-Based Instruction
Reciprocal Teaching
Role Play
Storytelling
Technology
Visual Aids
Visualization
Work Study
Writing
Other: ________________
Describe application of above strategy or strategies below
Other: A Timeline is a great strategy for this unit – the story runs parallel to real-life events. Students use the
BBC Timeline handout to compare literary and real-life events and conflicts.
Assessment Method/s and description
Student literary events journal and timeline.
Student final project for novel theme – connecting Forbidden City themes to similar events or characters to
similar people. They will have a choice of media: brochure, poster, IMovie, PowerPoint, video skit, news
broadcast, or project of student choice to portray key themes.
Resource List
Online resources: Websites, timelines, Frontline “Tank Man” video, research sources for project
Nightline video of “Tiananmen 1989”
Classroom maps and magazine articles for China
Guest speakers who have traveled to China
Notes: (this area may list accommodations, differentiation, as well as other key information that may not fit into
the categories above)
Some students will need to partner read and read with a teacher for difficult passages of the text, especially
those with challenging vocabulary and foreign words/phrases. Student projects will include modifications for
levels of difficulty. Students will use some collaboration for project, but may work independently primarily,
by choice.
Peer Reviewer: _________________________
Comments: