Lesson: directing and designing
Unit: Of Mice and Men, chapter 6
Length: two fifty minute classes
Space Requirements: classroom
Age Level: 9th grade
Materials: VCR, TV, and Of Mice and Men Video for first class period.
Overview: Students will watch the video and discuss how it compares
to the book. Theywill discuss choices that the director made and what
was effective about those choices.
Objectives:
· Students will think as directors and critique the choices that
the director of the movie made.
· Students will discuss their opinions about artistic choices
with each other.
Plan:
· First class period: watch the beginning of the video. Tell
students to pay attention to how it compares to the book, and choices
that the director has made. Have them take notes to help them later.
· Second class period: finish the video. As a class discuss how
the movie compares with the book, specific choices that the director
made that worked and helped us connect with the characters, etc. Discuss
choices that didn't work as well, and what they would do instead. Explain
their homework assignment: Students can choose from the following choices:
draw what their sets would look like for the play if they did it, and
include an explanation about choices they made. Thinking as if they
were directing the play, draw each character and design the costume
that character would wear and write an explanation of the choices they
made. The third choice is to write a 3 page compare/contrast essay on
the book and the play and to critique how the director has portrayed
the story. They should also include what they would do differently and
why. If there is time at the end of class, they can begin their projects.
Accommodation: All students can participate in watching the video and
the class discussion. There are three different assignment choices so
that students who are more artistic can choose a design project, and
students who like to write can choose the essay assignment. For those
students who have trouble drawing and writing, I could arrange a separate
assignment, with that student and their tutor or parent in private,
that would best fit their ability.
Assessment: Students will have an overall participation grade, and how
they behave during the video and how they participate in discussion
will effect that grade. The assignments will be graded on a point system.
They will be worth 40 points. The design projects will be graded on
neatness (10), creativity (10), and explanation of artistic choices
(20). The essay will be graded on clarity and organization (10), creativity
(10), and explanation of critiques (20).
