Dante Yacobucci
Rocky Mountain High School
U.S. Literature
Grade 11
Lesson Plan #1
Unit 2: The American Romantics (Transcendentalism) Length: 90 Minutes Date: 9/18/17
Standards: 11.2.1.a. Complex literary texts require critical reading approaches to
effectively interpret and evaluate meaning
o i. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining
where the text leaves matters uncertain. (CCSS: RL.11-12.1)
o ii. Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their
development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on
one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the
text. (CCSS: RL.11-12.2) (CDE).
Learning Target: I can determine the main themes of a text and cite textual evidence to
support my thematic statement.
Success Criteria: I will read an excerpt from Emersons Nature and determine one of the
authors prevailing themes. Then, I will cite a textual example that supports this theme on
padlet.com and explain why it encompasses that theme.
Assessments:
o Pre: Students will answer the following questions on a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern thought?
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work, etc.)
o Formative: Students will answer and respond to the following questions on
padlet.com
A sentence that is hard to understand
Why?
A sentence that resonated with you
Why?
A sentence that encapsulates one of Emersons themes
Explain
o Formative: Ticket-Out-the-Door: Students will answer the following questions on
a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern thought?
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work, etc.)
o Summative: Some of the content covered today will be on the unit test.
o Formative: Students will write their own found poems if there is enough time
Dante Yacobucci
Rocky Mountain High School
U.S. Literature
Grade 11
These poems will demonstrate understanding of one of Emersons themes,
while using words/excerpts from Nature
Inquiry Questions:
o What should a thematic statement look like?
o How does one determine the central idea of a text?
o Which elements of a text demonstrate theme?
o How did transcendentalism impact American life?
o What was Emersons role in transcendentalism?
o How did the transcendentalists differ from the rationalists and puritans?
Differentiation:
o Students will receive skeleton notes for the note taking portion of this lesson. This
will allow students who struggle with note taking and organization to practice
these skills. This is a form of scaffolding, as I adjust the note taking strategies as
students develop confidence and pacing.
o If I find that students are having a hard time determining the themes or citing
evidence, I will model a specific example for them to that they have a better idea
of what the process is.
Materials:
o Skeleton notes
o Notecards
o Laptops
o Lined paper
o Writing utensils
o U.S. Literature Textbooks
o Binders
o Vocabulary Books and Worksheets
Procedures:
o 5 Min: Attendance and Stamp Daily Grammar Practice
(Daily Grammar Practice (DGP) is Ms. Druses way of teaching students
fundamental grammar skills that will translate into their compositions)
o 5 Min: Independent work time on Advancing Vocabulary Skills
Students student vocabulary words from this book independently on
Mondays in order to prepare for exercises and assessments later in the
week)
o 5 Min: Pre-Assessment Notecards
Students will answer the following questions on a notecard
What is Transcendentalism?
What is one way Transcendentalism has influenced modern
thought?
Dante Yacobucci
Rocky Mountain High School
U.S. Literature
Grade 11
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson? (List one fact, characteristic, work,
etc.)
o 30 Min: Skeleton Notes
Students will take notes on my lecture/discussion of Transcendentalism
and Emerson
o 5 Min: Brain Break
This is an opportunity for students to stand up, destress, and recollect
themselves for the next activity
o 10 Min: Read excerpt from Emersons Nature
o 15 Min: Padlet Discussion Activity
Students will answer and discuss these questions on padlet.com
A sentence that is hard to understand
o Why?
A sentence that resonated with you
o Why?
A sentence that encapsulates one of Emersons themes
o Explain
o 10 Min: Found Poem Activity
Students will write their own found poems if there is enough time
o 5 Min: Ticket-Out-The-Door
Students will answer the same questions as the pre assessment in order to
show growth.
