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The Giver by Lois Lowry - A Novel Study

In this six-week course, students will read The Giver by Lois Lowry by investigating the dystopian genre and participating in Socratic Seminar discussions designed to help students learn literary analysis, reading comprehension, and more!
Kaitlyn Fischer: Close-Reading Specialist
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Class

What's included

6 live meetings
4 in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be asked to read the novel outside of class so that our class time can be spent discussing the novel.
Assessment
While there is no specific assessment completed in class, there will be plenty of options for students to engage in other activities outside of our class discussion. The options are listed below. If you are interested in any of these supplemental materials, please let me know so that I can arrange them with you! Option One: - Daily Writing Activity: Mini-Prompts for Each Round of Reading Option Two: - Discussion Guide/Reading Comprehension Questions: To prepare for class and to heighten understanding Option Three: - A Full-Length Essay: Choose to analyze anything from character, theme, symbolism, etc.

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 8
"Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birthmothers produce newchildren, who are assigned to appropriate family units: one male, one female, to each. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. The community is a precisely choreographed world without conflict, inequality, divorce, unemployment, injustice... or choice.

"Everyone is the same.

"Except Jonas.

"At the Ceremony of Twelve, the community's twelve-year-olds eagerly accept their predetermined Life Assignments. But Jonas is chosen for something special. He begins instruction in his life's work with a mysterious old man known only as The Giver. Gradually Jonas learns that power lies in feelings. But when his own power is put to the test - when he must try to save someone he loves - he may not be ready. Is it too soon? Or too late?" - Citation provided below!

Through this class, students will read Lois Lowry's dystopian classic, The Giver. Through Socratic Seminar discussions, students will discuss, debate, and analyze the novel. We will focus on dystopian elements, literary elements, and analysis of the different parts of a story (character development, conflict, foreshadowing, symbolism, theme, etc.). See below for a list of topics for our class discussions!

Citation:
          Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1993.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to:
     - Read The Giver
     - Participate and debate through Socratic Seminar Discussions
     - Discuss, Debate, and Analyze the Novel. 
     - Focus On and Identify Dystopian Elements
     - Focus On and Identify Literary Elements
     - Focus On and Identify Character Development
     - Define Conflict, Foreshadowing, Symbolism, and Theme, 
     - Introduce Themselves
     - Introduce the Author and Novel
     - Introduce Dystopian Elements
     - Explain their Opinion on Controversial Statements
     - Define the Terminology of the Society
     - Define and Explain 'Sameness'
     - Describe the Ceremonies (Purpose and Goal)
     - Define and Identify Examples of Coming-of-Age
     - Examine Values of the Society and its People
     - Analyze the Qualities and Characteristics of the Receiver
     - Analyze the Qualities and Characteristics of the Giver
     - Explain the Process of Receiving Memories
     - Determine the Importance of Memories
     - Examine the Danger of Removal of Information
     - Identify and Differential between Different Color Symbolism
     - Identify Symbolism of Items in a Story
     - Explain the Wisdom of Memories
     - Understand the Importance of Struggles and Suffering
     - Determine the Truth of a Dystopian Society
     - Analyze Theme and Symbolism
     - Explain How Tone and Color Symbolism Affect One Another
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
6 Lessons
over 6 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Introduction
 - Welcome! and Introductions
     - Introduction to the Author and Novel
     - Introduction to Dystopian Elements
     - Setting Up for the Class
     - Controversial Statements 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Chapters 1 - 5
 - Analyzing the Main Character - Jonas
     - Rules of the Society
     - Dystopian Elements of the Novel
     - Terminology of the Society
     - Sameness 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Chapters 6 - 9
 - Ceremonies (Purpose and Goal)
     - Coming-of-Age
     - Values of the Society and its People
     - Qualities and Characteristics of the Receiver 
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Chapters 10 - 13
 - Qualities and Characteristics of the Giver
     - Receiving Memories
     - The Importance of Memories
     - The Removal of Information
     - Dystopian Elements
     - Color Symbolism 
40 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Here is the parental guide provided by CommonSenseMedia for the novel. Please look over it and let me know if you have any questions! - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-giver-book-1
Supply List
Students will need to have access to the novel. Here are locations where you can purchase the novel! The version of the novel that I have is the one from Barnes and Noble, but you are welcome to get the novel elsewhere, of course. Let me know if you have questions!

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Giver-Lois-Lowry/dp/0385732554 

Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/giver-lois-lowry/1100295882?ean=9780544336261 

Audible:
https://www.audible.com/ep/title/?asin=B002UUQUB6&source_code=GO1GBSH09091690EK&device=d&cvosrc=ppc.google.the%20giver%20audio&cvo_campaign=250472169&cvo_crid=468298351157&Matchtype=e&ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&gclid=CjwKCAiA_9r_BRBZEiwAHZ_v135mX7Tb8Sv5bobbUWjbprQLpST5_vAxd_JNVhidm_CTZHW056zksRoCm4kQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2020
5.0
962reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
This is a novel that I have taught many times in several different types of settings: classic novel book discussions (see links), private 1-1 tutoring, and public school courses. I hope that students enjoy the powerful emotional novel but be aware that it is an emotional book that many students find sad. Students are encouraged to talk it out with someone and with the teacher!

Classic Literature Novel Study (High School Version): 
     - https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-novel-study-V9NC71b3?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
Classic Literature Novel Study (Middle School Version):
     - https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-a-novel-study-xkvxQwCz?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$19

weekly or $110 for 6 classes
1x per week, 6 weeks
40 min

Completed by 25 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
1-6 learners per class

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