9/13/14, 8:43 PM Lesson Plan-The Chaser

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Caroline Tucker
Holly Ridge Middle School
Lesson Plan-Horror/Mystery Unit
Title of the Lesson: Chase or be Chased
Grade Level: 8
th
Grade Language Arts
Length of Lesson: Three 49-minute classes
Overview of the Lesson: Students will read The Chaser by
John Collier and then analyze literary elements as a group using
Padlet.
Essential Leaning Outcomes Questions:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to
! Identify literary elements (irony, allusion, theme, tone,
mood, symbolism)
! Interact with text (make predictions, infer ending)
! Collaborate with group members effectively
! Navigate Padlet to convey information and communicate
with others
NC Common Core Standards Being Addressed:
! RL8.1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly
supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well
as inferences drawn from the text
! RL8.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text, including figurative and
connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word
choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or
allusions to other texts
Materials Needed:
! Class set of The Chaser by John Collier
! The Chaser graphic organizer (see last page)
! iPad (or laptop) cart for Days 2 and 3
! Index cards
9/13/14, 8:43 PM Lesson Plan-The Chaser
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! Students need writing utensil
How the Lesson Will Flow:
Note: Four minutes have been allotted each day for
transitioning between activities, getting settled, announcements,
etc.
Day 1
! [15 minutes] Pre-Reading Class Discussion
o What is a chaser? Discuss both the concept of a
chaser being someone who follows or runs after
another person as well as a chaser being a drink
used to remove a bitter aftertaste of medicine or
liquor.
o Make predictions about the story.
o Connect the title with the unit. How could The
Chaser relate to mystery or horror?
! [30 minutes] Read The Chaser aloud as students
follow with class sets, stopping frequently to recap and ask
questions to check for understanding. Students should
also use the graphic organizer (bubble map) to jot down
any examples of literary elements they notice or we discuss
as we read.
o Ask who is the protagonist and who is the
antagonist at the beginning and again at the end.
o Whose point of view is the story from?
o How do you know the genre of this story is
mystery/horror?
o (At the end) What can you infer happens after the
story ends?
Day 2
! [5 minutes] Brief review of The Chaser
! [10 minutes] Students complete graphic organizer
individually
! [10 minutes] Intro to Padlet/explanation of tool; arrange
students in groups of 6, distributing iPads.
! [20 minutes] Students work in groups and post to
Padlet.
o Each group will receive one literary element.
o Each group must post at least two instances of
their element on the Padlet, along with a picture
found on Google, Pixlr, etc.
o Students should write their group members
names as well as their literary element on their
posts.
9/13/14, 8:43 PM Lesson Plan-The Chaser
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Day 3
! [15 minutes] Show clip of The Chaser via The Twilight
Zone
! [30 minutes] Students complete work on the Padlet page
in groups and review all class posts.
o On index card, students should explain which
literary element they believe has the biggest impact
on The Chaser citing evidence from the text.
o They should also connect the element to the genre
and explain how their choice enhances the
myster/horror.
o This should be handed in as an exit slip.
Assessment:
! Informally check for understanding periodically
throughout the reading
! Graphic organizer will be scored as part of a notebook
check
! Check each groups contribution to Padlet
! Exit Pass (index card)
Sources for the Lesson:
! Dr. Pritchards template for lesson plan
! The Twilight Zone
9/13/14, 8:43 PM Lesson Plan-The Chaser
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