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What Do We See?

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Brian Calandruccio

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Seeing Pecola Lesson Plan

Students will analyze character interactions, identify emerging themes of appearance versus reality and social class, and discuss the impact of environment on individuals in pages 33-44 of "The Bluest Eye."

Understanding these complex interactions and themes helps students develop critical thinking skills, deepen their empathy, and recognize how societal perceptions and environments shape individual experiences, especially during childhood.

Audience

9th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion and textual analysis

Materials

  • Slide Deck: What Do We See?, - Reading: The Bluest Eye, Pages 33-44, and - Worksheet: Pecola's World

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review pages 33-44 of "The Bluest Eye."
    - Read through the Seeing Pecola Lesson Plan, Slide Deck: What Do We See?, Reading: The Bluest Eye, Pages 33-44, and Worksheet: Pecola's World.
    - Prepare to project the Slide Deck: What Do We See?.
    - Make copies of the Worksheet: Pecola's World for each student.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Initial Perceptions (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Project Slide 3 of the Slide Deck: What Do We See?.
    - Ask students to reflect on the prompt: "Think about a time you met someone new. What were your first impressions? How did your understanding of them change as you got to know them better?"
    - Facilitate a brief whole-class share-out.

Step 2

Textual Exploration & Discussion (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Transition to Slide 4 and 5 of the Slide Deck: What Do We See?.
    - Guide students through a discussion of pages 33-44 of Reading: The Bluest Eye, Pages 33-44. Focus on:
    - The contrasting environments of Pecola's home and the MacTeer household.
    - The interactions between Pecola, Claudia, and Frieda.
    - Claudia's initial feelings towards Pecola and how they evolve.
    - The emerging themes of social class, poverty, and how children perceive each other based on circumstances.
    - Encourage students to cite specific passages to support their observations.

Step 3

Worksheet Activity: Deep Dive (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Worksheet: Pecola's World.
    - Project Slide 6 of the Slide Deck: What Do We See?.
    - Instruct students to work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet, focusing on close reading and analysis of the assigned pages.
    - Circulate to provide support and answer questions.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Reflection & Connection (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Project Slide 7 of the Slide Deck: What Do We See?.
    - Ask students to share one insight or question that arose from today's reading and discussion.
    - Prompt them to consider how the themes in these pages connect to broader societal issues.
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Slide Deck

What Do We See? <br/> The Bluest Eye, Pages 33-44

Exploring Childhoods and Perceptions in Toni Morrison's Novel

Today's Focus:
Pages 33-44, Unpacking Pecola's Story

Welcome students and introduce the day's focus on pages 33-44 of "The Bluest Eye." Set an inquisitive tone for the lesson.

Our Objective Today

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Analyze character interactions between Pecola, Claudia, and Frieda.
  • Identify emerging themes of social class, empathy, and environmental impact.
  • Discuss how perceptions of beauty and worth are shaped.

Why This Matters:

Understanding these complex layers helps us develop empathy and critically examine the societal factors that influence identity and self-perception.

Clearly state the learning objective and explain why this section of the novel is important for students to analyze. Connect it to real-world understanding.

Warm-Up: First Impressions

Think about a time you met someone new.

  • What were your first impressions of them?
  • How did your understanding of them change as you got to know them better?
  • What factors (like their home, clothes, or family) might influence how you first see someone?

Facilitate the warm-up discussion as outlined in the lesson plan. Encourage participation and a range of initial thoughts.

Key Focus Areas: Pages 33-44

As we discuss, pay close attention to:

  • The MacTeer Household: What is their daily life like?
  • Pecola Breedlove: How is she described and treated?
  • Claudia & Frieda: Their evolving relationship with Pecola.
  • Contrasting Environments: Differences between Pecola's home and the MacTeers'.

Guide students to recall the key figures and settings in these pages before diving into deeper analysis. Prompt them to remember specific details.

Discussion: Unpacking the Text

Let's discuss these pages. Consider:

  1. How do Claudia and Frieda initially react to Pecola? How does this change?
  2. What does the narrative reveal about Pecola's home life compared to the MacTeers'?
  3. Identify a passage that shows the emotional impact of Pecola's situation on her or on the other children.
  4. What do these pages suggest about societal views on beauty, race, and poverty?

Use these questions to spur a guided discussion, asking students to refer to the text for evidence. Encourage varied interpretations.

Worksheet Activity: Pecola's World

Now, let's deepen our understanding with the Worksheet: Pecola's World.

  • This worksheet will guide you through specific passages and questions from pages 33-44.
  • Work individually or with a partner to analyze the text and answer the prompts.
  • Be prepared to share some of your insights later!

Introduce the worksheet and explain its purpose: to consolidate their understanding and encourage individual textual analysis. Ensure they know to work individually or in pairs.

Cool-Down: Reflect and Connect

To wrap up our discussion today:

  • What is one new insight you gained about the characters or themes from these pages?
  • What question do you still have after reading this section?
  • How might the experiences of Pecola connect to issues of empathy and understanding in our own world?

Conclude the lesson by asking for final reflections. Connect the day's learning to the broader themes of the novel and encourage ongoing thought.

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Reading

Reading Assignment: The Bluest Eye, Pages 33-44

For this lesson, please read pages 33-44 of Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye."

As you read, pay close attention to:

  • The descriptions of the environments Pecola lives in.
  • The interactions between Pecola and the MacTeer sisters (Claudia and Frieda).
  • Any details that highlight themes of poverty, social class, and childhood perceptions.
  • Your own feelings and reactions to the events and characters in these pages.
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Worksheet

Pecola's World: Analyzing The Bluest Eye (Pages 33-44)

Directions: Read pages 33-44 of "The Bluest Eye" and answer the following questions. Provide specific textual evidence to support your answers where appropriate.

Section 1: Comprehension and Character Interaction

  1. Describe Pecola's experience living with the MacTeers. How does it compare to her own home environment as suggested in the text?











  2. How do Claudia and Frieda initially react to Pecola? What details show their feelings or perspectives?











  3. What is the significance of the passage where the girls discuss Pecola's appearance or smell? What does this reveal about childhood perceptions and societal judgments?











Section 2: Themes and Analysis

  1. Identify one passage (quote and page number) from pages 33-44 that highlights the theme of poverty or social class. Explain how this passage contributes to the theme.











  2. What does this section of the novel suggest about the vulnerability of children, especially those in difficult circumstances?











  3. Reflect on the title "What Do We See?". How do these pages challenge or reinforce what we might expect to "see" in a child or a family?












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