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Stranded: Welcome to Mars

Lesson Plan

Stranded: Welcome to Mars Lesson Plan

Students will be able to analyze the opening chapter of "The Martian" to identify the main character, setting, and initial conflict.

Understanding how a story begins helps readers grasp essential elements and prepare for deeper analysis. This lesson will enhance your critical reading skills.

Audience

9th Grade

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Engage, explore, discuss, and summarize.

Materials

Introductory Slide Deck, Student Reading Journals, and Copies of 'The Martian' (Chapter 1)

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Survival Scenario Brainstorm

10 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion: "Imagine you're stranded on an uninhabited planet with limited resources. What are the absolute first three things you'd try to do to survive?"
    - Ask students to quickly jot down their ideas in their Student Reading Journals.
    - Facilitate a short whole-class share-out, encouraging creative and practical solutions.

Step 2

Introduce the Novel and Author

5 minutes

  • Use the Introductory Slide Deck to introduce 'The Martian' by Andy Weir.
    - Briefly discuss the premise: an astronaut stranded on Mars.
    - Highlight the scientific accuracy and problem-solving aspects of the novel.

Step 3

Read and Annotate Chapter 1

15 minutes

  • Distribute Chapter 1 of 'The Martian'.
    - Instruct students to read Chapter 1 silently, annotating for the following key elements:
    - Main Character: Who is he? What do you learn about him?
    - Setting: Where is he? What details describe this place?
    - Initial Conflict: What is the immediate problem he faces?
    - Encourage students to note down unfamiliar vocabulary or questions they have in their Student Reading Journals.

Step 4

Group Discussion: First Impressions

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
    - Prompt groups to discuss their annotations from Chapter 1, focusing on the main character, setting, and initial conflict.
    - Ask groups to share interesting observations or questions they had during their reading.
    - Circulate among groups to facilitate discussion and address any misconceptions.

Step 5

Cool Down: One-Sentence Summary

5 minutes

  • Ask students to write a one-sentence summary of Chapter 1 of 'The Martian' in their Student Reading Journals.
    - This should encapsulate the main character, setting, and initial conflict.
    - Collect journals or have students share their summaries aloud as an exit ticket.
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