中学校のソクラテス単元研究: 秘密の花園

Do the thoughts of hidden places, eerie noises in the night, and mystery of the unknown excite you? How about strange characters and secrets that could destroy? If you think classic novels are boring and stale than let me introduce you to one of my favorite books and take you on a literary journey you won't soon forget.

Reading Schedule: If possible, please read the book ahead of the first class meeting. This will allow your child to focus on the overall themes and characters instead of summarizing each of the chapters during class. The goal of the unit study is to get a deeper understanding of the characters, themes, and to engage in a Socratic discussion of each child's opinion and thoughts based on what they've read.

Week 1 (Chapters 1-9): This week we will discuss the author Francis Hodgson Burnett, why The Secret Garden is considered coming-of-age literature, and Mary's role in it all. During class, we will discuss the influences of the time period and what influences the author's own life had on the book. We will also compare and contrast Mary's upbringing (both in India and in England) with each student's own experiences. 

Week 2 (Chapters 10-18): This week we will focus on Mary's "quest" and what is motivating her to make the choices she makes. During class, we will step into the character's shoes and discuss the hidden meanings and messages through metaphors and symbolism. We will also take a look at the various characters that Mary meets along her journey and what roles they play in her transformation.

Week 3 (Chapters 19-27): This week we will take a look at the timeline of events, highlighting the more important occurrences, that led to the story's conclusion. Students will discuss whether their predictions of the outcome was as expected or different than what they had in mind. We will also define the novel's overall theme and discuss what the student's thought about the story versus the author's intent. The class will wrap up with a conversation on if, and how, students would rewrite the story to reflect modern society.

All classes are conducted using the Socratic method of questioning. Your child will be given the chapters and questions before class so that they can actively participate in the group discussion during the live class. Please note that when learning this way there is no wrong answer and that students are encouraged to interact by answering and asking questions of their own during our time together.

Because of the subjective nature of the class, there are no official grades.

I look forward to seeing you in class!