My Brilliant Friend Lesson Plan

"Before" Discussion

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will understand how issues from the past continue to have an impact on today's society

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.7

Structure:

In Chapter 18, Lila claims that her parents think that what happened before was in the past and "in order to live quietly" they tried to leave it there. However, this makes them continue the past rather than leave it behind. Have the class examine this claim; do they agree with it? Can they come up with ideas in today's world that people perpetuate while simultaneously claiming they are "in the past"?...