lenny

Stranded! Meeting Mark Watney

user image

Lesson Plan

Stranded! Meeting Mark Watney

Students will be able to describe the main character and setting of "The Martian" and identify the initial conflict facing Mark Watney.

Understanding character, setting, and conflict are foundational skills for comprehending any story. This lesson helps students dive into a compelling sci-fi narrative, encouraging critical thinking about survival and problem-solving, which are relevant to real-world challenges.

Audience

8th Grade

Time

35 minutes

Approach

Through guided reading, discussion, and a character analysis worksheet.

Materials

Introductory Slide Deck, and Character Profile Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Introductory Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the talking points for each slide.
    * Print copies of the Character Profile Worksheet for each student.
    * Decide on the initial chapters/pages of "The Martian" you will read aloud or have students read independently. (e.g., Chapter 1 or the first few log entries).
    * Ensure access to a projector/smartboard for the slide deck and copies of "The Martian" (physical or digital).

Step 1

Introduction to Mars and Mark Watney

10 minutes

  • Hook: Begin by projecting the first slide of the Introductory Slide Deck and ask students about what they know about Mars or space travel.
    * Introduce "The Martian": Use the Introductory Slide Deck to briefly introduce Andy Weir and the premise of the novel. Emphasize the idea of being stranded alone.
    * Learning Objective: Clearly state the lesson's objective: to describe Mark Watney and the setting, and identify his initial conflict. (Slide 3 of the Introductory Slide Deck)

Step 2

Guided Reading of Opening Chapters

15 minutes

  • Read Aloud/Independent Reading: Begin reading the selected opening section of "The Martian" (e.g., Chapter 1). Encourage students to follow along.
    * Pause for Questions: Periodically pause to ask students what they are noticing about Mark Watney and the Martian environment. What kind of person is he? What is Mars like?
    * Focus on Conflict: Guide students to identify the primary problem Mark Watney faces right at the beginning of the story. (He's stranded, alone, and low on supplies).

Step 3

Character and Setting Analysis

8 minutes

  • Distribute Worksheet: Hand out the Character Profile Worksheet.
    * Group/Individual Work: Instruct students to work individually or in small groups to begin filling out the sections related to Mark Watney's character traits, the setting (Mars), and the initial conflict, based on the reading.
    * Circulate: Move around the classroom to provide support and answer questions. Encourage students to use evidence from the text.

Step 4

Vocabulary Check-in & Wrap-up

2 minutes

  • Quick Share: Ask a few students to share one observation they made about Mark Watney or Mars from their worksheets.
    * Preview Next Steps: Briefly mention that in the next session, they will delve deeper into Watney's challenges and problem-solving. Collect worksheets for review or have students keep them for further work.
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Welcome to Mars!

Ever wondered what it's like to be truly alone... millions of miles from home?

Welcome students and gauge their prior knowledge. Ask questions like: 'What do you know about Mars?' or 'Have you ever imagined being an astronaut?'

Meet Andy Weir & "The Martian"

Author: Andy Weir
Book: The Martian

Imagine this: An astronaut, Mark Watney, is stranded on Mars. His crew thinks he's dead and has left without him. He's alone. Very alone.

Introduce Andy Weir and the novel. Explain that it's a story of survival and ingenuity. Mention that Mark Watney is the main character, an astronaut left behind on Mars.

Our Mission Today:

Learning Objective:

  • Describe the main character, Mark Watney.
  • Identify the setting of the story: Mars.
  • Understand the initial conflict Mark Watney faces.

Clearly state the learning objectives for today's lesson. Ensure students understand what they will be able to do by the end of class.

Reading Time!

As we read the opening chapters of The Martian:

  • Pay close attention to Mark Watney: What kind of person is he?
  • Observe the setting: What is Mars like?
  • Identify the BIG problem Mark is facing right away.

Transition to the reading. Remind students to pay attention to details about Mark and Mars, and what challenges he immediately faces.

Character & Setting Analysis

We'll be working on a Character Profile Worksheet.

  • Think about Mark's personality.
  • Describe the Martian environment.
  • What's the main problem he has to solve?

Explain the purpose of the worksheet and what students should focus on. Encourage them to use details from the text.

Quick Check-in & Beyond!

What's one thing you learned about Mark or Mars today?

Next time, we'll see how Mark begins to tackle being stranded!

Wrap up the lesson, asking for quick shares and previewing future topics. Collect or instruct students to keep their worksheets.

lenny

Worksheet

Character Profile Worksheet: Mark Watney

Part 1: Mark Watney - The Man on Mars

Based on the opening chapters of "The Martian," describe Mark Watney using the prompts below. Provide details and examples from the text where possible.

1. Physical Appearance (What do we know about how he looks?)




2. Personality Traits (How would you describe his character? Is he funny, serious, smart, resourceful, easily scared?)







3. Skills/Profession (What is his job on the mission? What special knowledge does he have?)




4. Initial Thoughts/Feelings (How does he react to being stranded? What are his immediate concerns?)







Part 2: The Martian Setting

Describe the environment Mark Watney is stranded in.

1. Key Features of Mars (What is the landscape like? What are the conditions?)







2. Dangers of the Setting (What makes Mars a dangerous place for a human?)




Part 3: The Initial Conflict

What is the main problem Mark Watney faces at the very beginning of the story?

1. The Core Conflict (In your own words, what is the central challenge Mark must overcome?)







2. Immediate Obstacles (What are the first few specific problems that arise from this core conflict?)




lenny
lenny