Lesson Plan
Words as Action
Students will analyze key quotes about nonviolence and justice from "March: Book One" to understand the author's purpose and its impact on the reader.
Understanding the power of nonviolence and justice through literature helps students develop critical thinking skills, analyze authorial intent, and connect historical events to contemporary issues, fostering empathy and informed citizenship.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Through close reading and collaborative discussion.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Words as Action and make any desired adjustments.
- Print copies of the Key Quotes from March Analysis Sheet for each student.
- Familiarize yourself with the Small Group Discussion Prompts and potential student responses.
- Ensure you have read "March: Book One" and have a strong understanding of the selected quotes and themes.
- Prepare markers/chart paper if you plan to have groups record their discussions.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What are 'Powerful Words'?
5 minutes
- Display the prompt on the opening slide of the Slide Deck: Words as Action: "Think about a time you heard or read words that were incredibly powerful. What made them powerful? How did they make you feel?"
- Ask students to briefly jot down their thoughts or share with a partner. Have a few students share out with the class.
Step 2
Introduction to Nonviolence and Author's Purpose
10 minutes
- Use the Slide Deck: Words as Action to introduce the concept of nonviolence as a strategy for social change.
- Briefly discuss "March: Book One" and its importance.
- Explain 'author's purpose' and 'impact on the reader' using clear, age-appropriate language. Highlight that authors make choices to achieve specific effects.
Step 3
Model Close Reading: Analyzing a Key Quote
15 minutes
- Display the first key quote from "March: Book One" on the Slide Deck: Words as Action.
- Model a close reading of the quote, thinking aloud about:
- Context: Where does this quote come from in the book?
- Vocabulary: Any challenging words?
- Figurative Language/Rhetoric: How does the author use language?
- Author's Purpose: Why did the author include this?
- Impact: How does it make us feel or think?
- Fill out a portion of the Key Quotes from March Analysis Sheet together as a class.
Step 4
Small Group Analysis and Discussion
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Distribute the remaining copies of the Key Quotes from March Analysis Sheet.
- Assign each group 1-2 additional quotes from the worksheet to analyze using the same framework (context, vocabulary, rhetoric, author's purpose, impact).
- Provide each group with the Small Group Discussion Prompts to guide their conversation after analyzing their quotes. Encourage them to refer to the text.
- Circulate among groups, providing support and prompting deeper thinking.
Step 5
Share Out and Wrap-Up
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Have each group briefly share one key insight or observation from their quote analysis or discussion.
- Conclude by reiterating the enduring power of nonviolence and the importance of analyzing texts to understand authorial intent and impact.
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Slide Deck
Words as Action
Warm-Up: Powerful Words
Think about a time you heard or read words that were incredibly powerful.
What made them powerful?
How did they make you feel?
Greet students and introduce the warm-up. Encourage quick, honest responses.
The Power of Nonviolence in "March: Book One"
What is Nonviolence?
- A strategy for social change
- Peaceful resistance
Author's Purpose & Reader's Impact
- Author's Purpose: Why did the author choose those words?
- Reader's Impact: How do those words make you think or feel?
Explain that today's lesson will connect to "March: Book One" and explore how words can drive social change. Define nonviolence and introduce the concept of author's purpose and its impact. Emphasize that authors make deliberate choices to achieve certain effects on their readers.
Analyzing Powerful Language
Key Quote 1:
"We are not afraid and we shall overcome."
— John Lewis, March: Book One
Let's Analyze:
- What is the context of this quote?
- Any challenging vocabulary?
- What rhetoric or language choices stand out?
- What is the author's purpose in including this quote?
- What is its impact on you, the reader?
Display the first key quote. Guide students through a close reading. Ask guiding questions about context, vocabulary, figurative language, why the author chose this quote, and what effect it has on them. Use the Key Quotes from March Analysis Sheet to model filling out the analysis.
Your Turn: Small Group Analysis
Work in your groups to analyze additional quotes from March: Book One.
Use your:
Be ready to share your insights!
Explain that students will now work in small groups to analyze more quotes. Remind them to use the Key Quotes from March Analysis Sheet and the Small Group Discussion Prompts. Circulate and support groups.
Reflect & Connect
Group Share Out
- What was a key insight from your group's analysis?
The Power of Words
- How can words inspire action and change?
- What have you learned about nonviolence and its message?
Facilitate a brief class share-out. Ask each group to share one interesting discovery or thought. Reiterate the main learning objective and the lasting message of the lesson.
Worksheet
Key Quotes from March: Book One - Analysis Sheet
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Instructions:
For each quote, carefully read it and then answer the questions below. Think about what the author is trying to achieve by including these words in March: Book One and how they make you feel as a reader.
Quote 1 (Modeled Example):
"We are not afraid and we shall overcome."
— John Lewis, March: Book One
1. Context: Where does this quote appear in the book? What is happening at that moment?
2. Vocabulary: Are there any challenging or important words? What do they mean?
3. Rhetoric/Language Choices: How does the author use language here? (e.g., strong verbs, repetition, imagery, appeals to emotion)
4. Author's Purpose: Why do you think the author included this specific quote in the book? What message are they trying to send?
5. Impact on the Reader: How does this quote make you feel or think? What is its lasting impression?
Quote 2:
"Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America."
— John Lewis, March: Book One
1. Context: Where does this quote appear in the book? What is happening at that moment?
2. Vocabulary: Are there any challenging or important words? What do they mean?
3. Rhetoric/Language Choices: How does the author use language here? (e.g., strong verbs, repetition, imagery, appeals to emotion)
4. Author's Purpose: Why do you think the author included this specific quote in the book? What message are they trying to send?
5. Impact on the Reader: How does this quote make you feel or think? What is its lasting impression?
Quote 3:
"The movement was a nonviolent revolution. It was love in action."
— John Lewis, March: Book One
1. Context: Where does this quote appear in the book? What is happening at that moment?
2. Vocabulary: Are there any challenging or important words? What do they mean?
3. Rhetoric/Language Choices: How does the author use language here? (e.g., strong verbs, repetition, imagery, appeals to emotion)
4. Author's Purpose: Why do you think the author included this specific quote in the book? What message are they trying to send?
5. Impact on the Reader: How does this quote make you feel or think? What is its lasting impression?
Discussion
Small Group Discussion Prompts: The Power of Nonviolence
Now that you have analyzed the key quotes, discuss the following questions with your group. Be sure to refer back to the quotes and your analysis sheet to support your answers.
1. Most Impactful Quote:
Which of the quotes you analyzed resonated with you the most, and why? What specific words or ideas from that quote stuck with you?
2. Author's Message:
How do the authors of March: Book One use these quotes to convey the central message of nonviolence and justice? What is their overall purpose?
3. Connecting to Today:
Can you think of any real-world examples, either historical or current, where the ideas of "good trouble" or nonviolent action, as seen in these quotes, have made a difference? Explain your reasoning.
4. Language and Feeling:
Choose one quote and discuss how the author's specific word choices or rhetorical strategies (like repetition, powerful verbs, or emotional appeals) contribute to its impact on the reader. How does it make you feel, and why?
5. Nonviolence in Action:
Based on these quotes, how would you describe the power of nonviolence? What challenges might someone face when practicing nonviolence, and what strengths does it offer?