Running Head: THE SEA OF MONSTERS UNIT 1
THE SEA OF MONSTERS UNIT12
The Sea Of Monsters Unit
Michael Eppinger
(Literacy in The Intermediate Grades, TCH 621)
Marian University
11-19-11
Literature Focus Unit based on Rick Riordans book Percy Jackson The Sea of Monsters
This unit is constructed for grades 5-8 - (6th grade)
Lexile: 740
Grade Level Equivalent 4.7
Age 11-18
Themes from the novel (in no special order):
Family is ultimately important and will remain family no matter the consequences.
The virtues of honor and courage
Leadership and responsibility
Loyalty to self, family, and friends
Greatness comes from within
Do not judge the book by its cover
Goals and objectives of unit:
Students will be able to recognize the human condition through the books characters. (text to world)
Students will be able to relate ancient Greek mythology as it pertains to the book. (text to text)
Students will be able to relate characters to themselves. (text to self)
Students will be able to demonstrate comprehension and creative writing skills to literature.
Students will be able to recognize/appreciate classic literature as it relates to modern literary adaptations.
Students will be able to appreciate poetry as a viable form of literature.
Background knowledge needed:
In order to completely understand this book the reader should have some familiarity with ancient Greek mythology. This unit is created to strengthen the understanding of the mythology of the Greeks. Through examples of Greek literature and comparing/contrasting students will build upon past knowledge.
Comprehension Strategies:
This unit will provide opportunity for the students to demonstrate multiple comprehensive strategies by utilizing prior knowledge, asking pertinent questions, drawing inferences and synthesizing mythology and applying it to modern literature.
The vocabulary lesson will emphasize the knowledge aspects of comprehension.
Activity 2 (groups) will stress the importance of inference and character interaction and the application of the text to self, text and world.
The Reading Journal will deal with the questioning aspects of comprehension. This is the essential part of comprehension where knowledge is applied, analyzed, and synthesized in the readers head and then organized. Plus this is a great way to emphasize the directed reading-thinking strategy approach.
The poetry portion of the unit will deal with synthesis and extension of the book. The poetry will aid in reasoning the authors purpose in his themes.
The creative writing activity will tie all of the above comprehensive strategies together to achieve understanding by giving an outlet for application.
Activity no. 1 Vocabulary
Concept: The students will understand the meaning and context of Greek mythological vocabulary as read in the book The Sea of Monsters
Alignment of standards, objectives and assessment(s) for student learning:
Model Academic Standard(s) or Early Learning Standard (EC majors)
Learner Outcomes/ Objective(s)
Type of Assessment(s)
(If applicable attach rubric, test or other assessment instrument
Common Core Standard W6.2
Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
L.6.4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
The students will be able clearly understand the meaning and context of Greek mythological vocabulary.
The evaluation will be assessed first by collaborative participation and finally by a matching based activity.
Teacher background knowledge needed for the lesson:
Understanding of Greek mythological vocabulary as per the relationship with Rick Riordans The Sea of Monsters book.
Student prior knowledge needed for this lesson and students possible misconceptions about what is going to be taught:
Students will be in the process of reading Rick Riordans book The Sea of Monsters.
Students will have a basic concept of Greek mythology.
Students might have lack of mythology knowledge.
Some of the vocabulary words (depicting monsters and gods) might be objectionable to certain students idea of polytheism.
Type of lesson (introduces a concept/skill/strategy, continues development of a concept/skill/strategy, completes instruction of a concept/skill/strategy):
Crucial knowledge needed to help facilitate comprehension of reading the book
Vocabulary word learning helps students become better readers/writers
Addition to concept and word knowledge adds to skillset of literacy
Rationale for the lesson:
To introduce vocabulary as seen in Rick Riordans The Seas of Monsters
To strengthen conceptual skills of Greek mythology
Teaching Strategies/approaches:
Teacher to introduce the concept of Greek mythology.
Questioning of students prior knowledge and experiences with Greek mythology
Discussion of the vocabulary within the book
Summative assessment with vocabulary match sheet
Classroom management considerations:
The lesson will be taught as a whole.
The concept of polytheism may need to be addressed in lieu of certain individuals who need clarification.
Materials:
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (this is the first activity before the actual reading of the book)
Vocabulary match assessment piece (see attached master sheets)
Overhead projection of some sort to facilitate directions etc.
Procedures: (Detailed list of steps)
Engagement - Begin by asking the students what they know of Greek mythology. Discuss their experience with it and make it a point to engage them in the robust story nature of the mythology.
Development of lesson: Introduce the vocabulary to the students and explain that these words and concepts will be present in the book. The teacher should stress that although these words might seem foreign and antiquated that in fact they are prevalent in todays literature and popular culture. This will be a pre-cursor to an upcoming lesson in the unit.
Instruct the students to start reading the book and to take note of the words as they come up. Give them a copy of the definitions to assist them in their comprehension while reading. *see attached
Teacher will hand out the vocabulary match materials and has the students match up the definitions to the corresponding picture. *see attached
In addition to the vocabulary match the teacher will hand out the crossword exercise. *see attached
In addition to the match and crossword activity the teacher will hand out a word search exercise as well. * see attached
Accommodations to support student learning
Additional books on Greek Mythology can be provided to the students please see the additional book list at the end of the unit summary.
For differentiated instruction a possible adaptation to lesson is to group students with varying skill levels to go over the vocabulary lists.
Closure of the lesson Teacher to periodically throughout the unit ask comprehensive questions relating to vocabulary for observed assessments. Teacher will collect the exercises at the end of the unit.
Extension Activity/Homework Assignment (if appropriate)
For an extension of this lesson the students can draw their own versions of the words and bring them back to school to display in the classroom.
Activity no. 2: Gods, Monsters and Demigods (literature circle study)
Concept: The students will be able to make connections between ancient Greek mythology and The Sea of Monsters by relating the gods to their modern demigod offspring. Students will also use comprehensive strategies of categorization and inference to expand on the reading.
Alignment of standards, objectives and assessment(s) for student learning:
Model Academic Standard(s) or Early Learning Standard (EC majors)
Learner Outcomes/ Objective(s)
Type of Assessment(s)
(If applicable attach rubric, test or other assessment instrument
Common Core Standard RL6.1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Common Core Standard RL6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
The students will make connections to modern literature / culture (moves, etc.) through the Greek mythology.
The student will gain insight of text based on similarities to self.
The student will make comprehensive connections between the characters of the literature.
This will be a collaborative piece where small groups work together to create graphic organizers (charts) of the Gods and demigods.
Students will diagram interpersonal relationships and produce conjecture of future outcomes.
Teacher background knowledge needed for the lesson:
Thematic and plot background of The Sea of Monsters as well as the concept of questioning based on Blooms Taxonomy.
Student prior knowledge needed for this lesson and students pos
