Revised Lesson (Revisions made in red)

Due to Fire Drill class is shortened by 20 minutes

Day 6 70 min (Originally 90 minutes)
Goals:
1. Students will be able to state similarities and differences between Poes The Cask of
Amontillado and The Tell-Tale Heart.
2. Students will be able to detail the elements of a short story in The Tell-Tale Heart.
3. Students will be able to watch a short film and evaluate it compared to the summative
assessment expectations.
4. Students will be able to define and use infinitives and infinitives phrases within their
writing.
Materials: Poe text
Common Core State Standards:
Reading for All Purposes

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the
course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details;
provide an objective summary of the text. (CCSS: RL.9-10.2)
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations)
develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or
develop the theme. (CCSS: RL.9-10.3)
Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it
(e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as
mystery, tension, or surprise. (CCSS: RL.9-10.5)

Writing and Composition CCSS: L.9-10.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation,

and spelling when writing.
o Distinguish between phrases and clauses and use this knowledge to write varied,
strong, correct, complete sentences

9:35-9:45 Students silent read

Students read books of their choice or The Cask of Amontillado when they enter the
classroom. This is a consistent in the class that I dont want to break due to the fire drill. It may
also be the only time students read in the week recreationally.

The Cask of Amontillado discussion sheet Initially 15 minutes, now omitted. Handout is
now homework to help me check for understanding.
9:45-9:55 The Tell-Tale Heart
Students popcorn read pages 513-516.
While reading or during discussion students will complete their Poe notebook entry including
characters, setting, plot, conflict, and theme for The Tell-Tale Heart. This is a one of the key
texts that students will be referring to throughout the unit and needs to be read.
9:55-10:15 Fire Drill
10:15-10:35 Watch YouTube Video by Ryan Shovey
Edgar Allan Poes The Tell Tale Heart: Short Film
Although lengthy, this is a great film to show students an idea and interpretation of the text. I am
however cutting 5 minutes off the film so that it doesnt negatively affect the other elements of
the lesson.
10:35-10:45 Short Film Discussion
Discuss the elements of the short film and what was similar and different compared to the short
story. Assess what elements of the summative assessment were included and what was missing.
Without discussion of the film and its correlation to the assessment it is moot. This discussion is
meant to help students find connections so that they can create a better summative assessment.
10:45-10:55 Discussion
What are the similarities between The Tell-Tale Heart and The Cask of Amontillado.
What perspective are these stories told? How do the narrators feign care for the individual they
are about to murder? What happens(ed) that has changed the sanity of the narrators? How does
this change the reliability of the narrators story? What genre would you characterize each of
these stories?
These questions will lead discussion to better understand both these texts, which will be
beneficial in analyzing these texts for when students create their summative assessment.
10:55-11:05 Grammar Lesson Infinitive Phrases
Infinitives are the basic form of a verb preceded by the word to, without an inflection binding
it to a particular subject or tense (e.g., see in we came to see). Infinitives can be used as nouns,
adjectives, or adverbs. Today the Focus is infinitive phrases connecting with verbs.

To swim is prohibited. [The infinitive to swim is used as a subject.]

Andrew loves to paint. [The infinitive to paint is used as a direct object.]
She had a longing to escape. [The infinitive to escape is used as an adjective.]
He was too mad to speak. [The infinitive to speak is used as an adverb.]

Infinitive phrases include an infinitive plus all modifiers and complements.

It is easiest to get there by plane.
Together as a class we will identify infinitives and infinitive phrases. We will underline the
infinitives and infinitive phrases in the sentences on the worksheet. When we have completed
that you will rewrite sentences on the next page using infinitive phrases. Finally, you will review
the excerpt from The Tell-Tale Heart and underline the infinitives and infinitive phrases.
Grammar is a difficult element of English and depending on prior education it may not have been
taught. This cannot be omitted as there will be additional scaffold learning built on it.
11:05-11:10 Homework: Finished Grammar Mini Lesson, The Tell-Tale Heart characters,
settings, plot, conflict, and theme able to be checked towards the beginning of the next class, and
completed The Cask of Amontillado discussion sheet.
Even though this is more time than is given in most classes to review homework, this is a long
period with many activities going on throughout the class. This gives students extra time to work
on anything that they have not completed as well as ask me questions.