Middle School English Language Arts Novel Study Course - The Giver by Lois Lowry
In this 12 week course that is perfect for 6th to 8th graders, we’ll explore The Giver by Lois Lowry, focusing on critical thinking, literary analysis, and engaging discussions.
What's included
10 live meetings
9 hrs 10 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be provided with activities, handouts, and assignments, as well as a copy of their digital notebooks and the text.Letter Grade
Available upon requestProgress Report
Available upon requestCertificate of Completion
After the class is over students will be provided a Certificate of Completion which they can download.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 8
This course will guide students through a deep and meaningful exploration of Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, literary analysis, vocabulary acquisition, and written and verbal communication, all aligned with Common Core standards. We’ll explore major themes such as individuality vs. conformity, freedom vs. control, and the importance of memory. Literary elements like symbolism, tone, and character development will be discussed. Each week, students will also focus on key vocabulary terms from the text. The course is organized into weekly sessions: Week 1: Introduction to The Giver and its setting Weekly: Read aloud two chapters, followed by discussions and activities Weekly Assignments: Vocabulary practice, literary element focus, and completion of the Reading Response Notebook. I will wait 10 minutes at the start of each session for students to enter the class. After which I will close the class. I teach multiple staggered starting dates for this course. If this course is full please see my profile for other start dates for your student or reach out to me. I am happy to post new sections of this course for interested learners. I use a mix of teaching tools and strategies, including: Read-alouds: I’ll read one chapter each week to help with fluency and comprehension. Students will be expected to read in between sessions as assigned, usually one chapter per week is read independently. Socratic Seminars: Students will engage in guided discussions to analyze the text. Interactive tools: Pear Deck Presentation for engaging slides, games, and quizzes. Multimedia: Video clips and visuals to enrich understanding of the text. My teaching is interactive, student-centered, and supportive. I strive to create an environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, express ideas, and collaborate. I balance structured lessons with room for creativity and discovery. Students will interact with me in several ways: During live discussions, where I facilitate and guide Socratic Seminars. Through activities during class and by receiving personalized feedback on their reading response notebooks. I’m committed to being available for questions and providing support throughout the course to ensure every student succeeds.
Learning Goals
Students will determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot.Students will analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)10 Lessons
over 10 WeeksLesson 1:
Introductions | Dystopian Genre
Classroom norms and expectations will be established.
Students will be introduced to Nearpod and given access to the Google Classroom for this course.
Chapter 1-2
• Students will make predictions and discuss the elements of the dystopian genre.
• Students will analyze how incidents in a story propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Character Traits
Chapters 3-5
• Students will analyze how particular elements of a story interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
• Students will analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Point of View
Chapters 6-7,
• Students will analyze how differences in the points of view of the
characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the
use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
• Students will analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Theme
Chapters 8-10
• Students will determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of individuality, freedom, and the complexities of a controlled, utopian society. While the content is suitable for middle school students, it does touch on mature topics such as societal control, emotional suppression, and the ethics of life and death decisions. These themes are handled thoughtfully and provide excellent opportunities for critical thinking and guided discussions.
Chapter 19 has a pretty intense section. It describes the release (death) of one of the twin babies and is quite unexpected for Jonas and the reader. I recommend reading
it ahead of time to know what your child will be reading. Some students struggle with the
idea of this chapter more than others, so I tend to give a warning beforehand.
Supply List
A digital copy of the text will be provided during the first class. Students may benefit from a physical copy of the book.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined November, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree from Florida Institute of Technology
I am certified to teach English for grades 6-12 and am a certified Reading Specialist. I have taught middle school English in a Title 1 school for the last 5 years. Reviews
Live Group Course
$20
weekly or $200 for 10 classes1x per week, 10 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
2-6 learners per class
