A Detailed Lesson Plan in English 7

I. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

a. determine the important details of the short story, “My Father Goes to Court” by
Carlos Bulosan;
b. utilize illustrations to unlock difficulty and events in the story;
c. show the importance of an individual as source of happiness to others.

II. SUBJECT MATTER

Topic: “My Father Goes to Court” by Carlos Bulosan
Reference: English Learner’s Material 7, pp. 374-377
http://www.historylink.org
Materials: visual aids, pictures, television, laptop, speaker, board, chalk, straw hat, coins

III. PROCEDURE
TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES STUDENTS’ ACTIVITIES

A. PRELIMINARIES
1.Opening Prayer
Good morning, class!
Good morning, Ma’am!
Let us start our day by asking for the Lord’s
guidance. Jacklord, please lead the prayer.
(Jacklord will lead the prayer.)
Thank you, Jacklord.
Before you sit down, please pick up the pieces of
paper and trash near you. Then, arrange your
chairs. (The students will pick up the pieces of
paper and trash near them, and will arrange
their chairs.)
Now, please be seated.

2.Checking of Attendance
Princess, who are the absentees today?
(Princess will enumerate the names of the
absentees.)
Thank you, Princess.
 3.Checking of Assignment
Last Thursday, I gave you an assignment. May you
remind the class about that, Jessica?
Ma’am, you asked the class to read the
short story, “My Father Goes to Court” by
Carlos Bulosan, and search for information
about Carlos Bulosan.
That’s right! Did you do the assignment, class?
Yes, Ma’am.
Great! When we discuss the story, we will see if
you understood it well.

4. Review of Previous Lesson

Before we go further, I would like to know if you
still remember what we discussed last meeting.
What was it about, Angel? Ma’am, we discussed the selection,
“Where’s the Patis?”

Very good! Who is the writer of the selection,

Marineth? It was written by Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil,
Ma’am.

Correct! According to Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil,

what is the Filipinos’ great dream? Yes, Jervie?
The Filipinos’ great dream is to go abroad.

Very good! Based on the selection, what happened

to Filipinos when they are in foreign land? Yes,
Liezel? The Filipinos abroad have changed their
way of dressing, social manners, language
use, and attitude.

Very well-said! But despite those transformations,

why do Filipinos seek for other Filipinos when
abroad? Yes, Chester?
It is because they are in desperate need of
Filipino meal. They still search for a
restaurant that caters bagoong, patis, garlic,
balat ng lumpia, gabi leaves and misua.
Excellent! So, what lesson does this story impart to
us? Yes, Johan? Even though some Filipinos already
reached their dream to go abroad, they still
miss the people and foods in the
Philippines.
Good job, class!

5. Motivation
I am glad to know that you understood the previous
lesson well. It seems that you are all ready for
today’s discussion. To give you a gist of what we
will discuss, let us sing “If You’re Happy and You
Know It”, and follow the instructions in the song.
Is it clear?
Yes, Ma’am.
Good! Are you ready?
Yes, Ma’am.
Then, let’s do it!

(The students will sing the song and do its

instructions.)

What a wonderful performance, class!

Did you enjoy the song?

Yes, Ma’am.

Great! So, what does the song want to know about

your feeling? Ma’am, the song wants to know if I’m
happy.

Very good! Now, I want you to think of something

that you have and makes you happy. Then, hold
that thought in your mind.
What makes you happy?
 (The students will volunteer and answer.)
I am pleased to know the things that make you
happy. So, when you sang the song “If You’re
Happy and You Know It”,

Did you clap your hands?

Yes, Ma’am.
Did you stomp your feet?
Yes, Ma’am.
Did you shout hurray?
Yes, Ma’am.
Did you do all three?
Yes, Ma’am.

But did you ask yourselves, “Am I really happy?”

B. LESSON PROPER
Today, we will discuss a story that will show what
happiness truly means: “My Father Goes to Court”
by Carlos Bulosan. But first, who is this man?

Anyone? Yes, Chazzandra?

Ma’am, he is Carlos Bulosan.
That’s right! Based on the information from the
reference that I gave to you, who is Carlos
Bulosan? Let us start from where he was born, and
his family background. Anyone? Yes, Clarence? Carlos Bulosan was born in the rural
farming village of Mangusmana. He was
the son of a farmer and spent most of his
life in the countryside with his family.
Very good! So from that, we knew that Carlos
Bulosan is a Filipino, and he had a simple kind of
 living. How about his life experiences? Anyone?
Yes, Jackson?
Carlos Bulosan’s family struggled to
survive during times of economic hardship.
He decided to go to America with the
dream to help his family. But in America,
he endured bad conditions as a laborer.
Thank you, Given. These encouraged him to
participate in union organizing with other Filipinos
and various workers. Carlos became a self-
educated and prolific writer determined to voice
the struggles he had experienced.
Do you understand?
Yes, Ma’am.
Excellent! So now, let us see how his life
experiences are related to the story. But, we can’t
move on! There are words in progress. These
words will help us understand the story well.

Let us unlock the mystery words by determining

what illustration best represents each meaning. The
illustrations will serve as our guide to know the
mystery words. Read the definition first then
choose from the illustrations. Is it clear?
Yes, Ma’am.
Definitions:
a pleasant or savory
smell

capable of being easily

spread to others:
causing other people to
feel or act a similar way
to say in a strong and
definite way that
someone or something
is bad or wrong
 a mallet used for
commanding attention
or confirming an action

Illustrations:

Good! Who wants to answer the first one? Yes,

Hadjiruddin. a pleasant or
savory smell

Very good! The mystery word is:

AROMA
Now, who can give a sentence using the word,
“aroma”? (The students will volunteer and give
examples.)

Those are good examples, class!

Please determine the illustration for the next capable of
definition, Angeline. being easily
spread to
others:
causing other
people to feel
or act a
` similar way
 Excellent! The mystery word is:
CONTAGIOUS
Now, who can give a sentence using the word,
“contagious”?
(The students will volunteer and give
examples.)
Those are good examples, class!
Please determine the illustration for the next
definition, Angel. to say in a strong
and definite way
that someone or
something is bad
or wrong

That’s right! The mystery word is:

CONDEMN
Now, who can give a sentence using the word,
“condemn”?
(The students will volunteer and give
examples.)

Those are good examples, class!

Please determine the illustration for the last
a mallet used
definition, Angel.
for
commanding
attention or
confirming an
action

Correct! The mystery word is:

GAVEL
Now, who can give a sentence using the word,
“gavel”?
(The students will volunteer and give
examples.)

Good job, class!

 Now that we are done unlocking the mystery
words, let us now move on to the story, “My Father
Goes to Court”.
For you to easily understand the story, we will do a
story map. We will help the father to find his way
to the court through the events that happened in the
story. So as we discuss the story, I will post
pictures that will serve as our guide.
Do you understand?
Yes, Ma’am.
So let’s start with this picture:

Where did the story happen?

The story happened in the island of Luzon.

That’s right! Who lived in the island of Luzon?

Yes, Jannah?
The narrator together with his family.

Correct! But after several years, the narrator and

his family lived in town. What happened in 1918
that caused them to live in town? Yes, Sharmaine?

His father’s farm had been destroyed by

one of our sudden Philippine floods.

When they were in town, did they have a neighbor?

Yes, Ma’am.
Very good! Who was this neighbor? Yes, Paulen?
The rich man and his family.

Correct! According to the narrator, what did the

rich man’s servants always do? Yes, Kenneth?

The rich man’s servants were always frying

and cooking something good.

That’s right! The aroma of the foods wafted down

to them from the windows of the big house.
What did the narrator’s family do when the aroma
of the foods reached their house? Yes, Cyril?
Their whole family stood outside the
windows of the rich man’s house. They
inhaled the heavenly spirit that drifted out
to their house.

Very good! According to the narrator, how did

they become healthy? Yes, Sherylle?

They were all healthy because they went

out in the sun and play. They were always
in the best of spirits and their laughter was
contagious.

Correct! What happened to the rich man’s family

as the narrator’s family become healthy? Yes,
Mark?
 The rich man’s family become sick; they
started to cough one after the other.
That’s right! One day, the rich man appeared at the
window and stood there a long time. He looked at
the narrator’s sisters and brothers who had grown
healthy. Then, what did he do? Yes, Wilfredo?

He banged down the window

and ran through his house, shutting all the
windows.

From that day on, the windows of their neighbor’s

house were always closed. The children did not
come out anymore. Why do you think the windows
of the rich man were closed? Yes, Patrick?
To prevent the poor family from smelling
the aroma of their foods.

That’s a good analysis! One day, a policeman came

to their house with a sealed paper. What was the
reason? Yes, Marivic?

The rich man filed a complaint against him.

Correct! What was the rich man’s accusation

against the father, Nicole?

He claimed that for years, they had been

stealing the spirit of their wealth and food.
 That’s right! Until, the day came for them to
appear in court.

How did the rich man look like when he appeared

in court, Lou? He had grown old and feeble; his face was
scarred with deep lines. With him was his
young lawyer.

Excellent! Spectators came in and almost filled the

chairs. The judge entered the room and sat on a
high chair. After the courtroom preliminaries, what
did the judge asked to the father, Mary Rose?
“Do you have a lawyer?”
Very good! What was the father’s response? Yes,
Remsell?
“I don’t need any lawyer, judge.”
Correct! What happened next, Gohan?

The rich man’s lawyer started to ask

questions.
That’s right! Class, at this point in time, let us
restate the exact lines in the story. Particularly, the
conversation between the rich man’s lawyer and
the father. I will be the rich man’s lawyer and you
will be the father. Is it clear?

Yes, Ma’am.
“Do you or do you not agree that you have been
stealing the spirit of the complaint’s wealth and
food?”
 “I do not!”
“Do you or do you not agree that while the
complaint’s servants cooked and fried fat legs of
lamb or young chicken breast you and your family
hung outside his windows and inhaled the heavenly
spirit of the food?”
“I agree.”

After that, the father said that he wants to see the

complainant’s children.

How did the children look, Qim?

The children were so thin and pale.

Correct! They were so amazed to see the children

so thin and pale. The father could not say anything
at first. He just stood by his chair and looked at
them.
Finally, the father cross – examined the
complainant. What did he say? When will they
pay? Yes, Joana?
The father said, “We are going to pay you
right now.”

Exactly! After that, what happened, Marivic?

He took the straw hat off the narrator’s lap

and began filling it up with centavo pieces
that he took from his pockets.

That’s right! The father went to the narrator’s

mother and brothers; they added coins in the straw
hat. Then, he went into the other room with his hat
in his hands. It was almost full of coins.
 Then, he shook the hat.
(The teacher will shake the hat.)

Did you hear it, class?

Yes, Ma’am.
Great! The rich man also heard the spirit of the
money when the father shook his hat. What did the
father say when the rich man heard the sweet tinkle
of coins, Allan?
“Then, you are paid.”

Exactly! Then what happened, Diometrius?

The judge pounded the gavel and said,

“Case dismissed.” They let the judge hear
their laughs, and the judge’s laugh was the
loudest of all.

Excellent, class! I am glad that you read and

understand the important details in the story.

D. Generalization
Now class, what are the important details in the
story? You may use the story map to retell the
events. Anyone?
(The students will volunteer and answer.)

Very well-said! So class, if you were the judge,

what will be your judgment? Why?
(The students will volunteer and answer.)
Those are good judgments!
Values Integration:
In the story, there are two houses present.
These two houses might be the representation of a
reality in life. The house of the rich man represents
all the material riches and recognitions that we
have. While the house of the poor man represents
the important things that we have which could
never be replaced by money. Sometimes, we reach
the top only to lose sight of what’s really important
to us --- God, family, friends, self, and other people
who help and guide us.

So, what is the lesson of the story?

Happiness is priceless.

Very good! There are lots of lesson that one can

get from the story. The idea of equality, for
example. But the bottom line of the story is, there
should always be genuine happiness inside your
heart. Because if there is happiness inside your
heart; no amount of hardship, poverty, judgments,
and all the other negativities in life could ever
bring you down.

E. APPLICATION
Hence, I want to know how the important people in
your lives contribute to your happiness. The class
will be divided into 5 groups; each group will
present how a particular person or group of people
makes you happy. Each group should have a
representative who will explain the tableau.

Group 1: happiness from God

(Group 1 will present.)
Group 2: happiness from family
(Group 2 will present.)
 Group 3: happiness from self
(Group 3 will present.)

Group 4: happiness from friends

(Group 4 will present.)

Group 5: happiness from other people who help

and guide you
(Group 5 will present.)

Very good presentation, class!

IV. EVALUATION:
Directions: Match the important details and dialogues in the story, “My Father Goes to
Court” to their corresponding illustration. Choose from the illustrations in the story map.
_______1. The judge said, “Case dismissed.”

_______2. The rich man filed a complaint against the father. He claimed that for years,
they had been stealing the spirit of their wealth and food.

_______ 3. “Do you or do you not agree that you have been stealing the spirit of the
complaint’s wealth and food?”
_______4. The rich man’s servants were always frying and cooking something good.

_______5. The narrator and his family became healthy because they went out in the sun
and play. They were always in the best of spirits and their laughter was contagious.

V. ASSIGNMENT:
1. Name the two kinds of narrative text.
2. Enumerate the elements of a narrative text.

Reference: English Learner’s Material 7, p. 326