Creative Lesson and Materials: Civil War Speeches


English For All – Advanced
DATE: 5/9/12
Teachers: Sarah Dunfee and Michaela Meaney  

Lesson Objectives


1.      SWBAT review class content from last lesson.
2.      SWBAT listen for and produce proper content word stress.
3.      SWBAT define vocabulary words about the Civil War
4.      SWBAT write an inspirational General’s speech using vocab and content from the lesson.
5.      SWBAT present their General’s speech in front of the class and apply content word stress.
Materials
-          YouTube video of Gen. Lewis Armistead’s speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Xu_Jni4V4)
-          YouTube video of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain’s speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d2_zeJTJcw)
-          Transcript of  Gen. Armistead’s speech
-          Transcript of  Gen. Chamberlain’s speech
-          Notecards with vocabulary words
-          Materials for banner creation (markers and two poster boards)
-          Writing prompt for speeches
Procedure
  1. Review from last class (5 mins)
Objective: SWBAT review content from last class by speaking answers to teacher’s review questions in an oral review.
  • Pre-activity: T will welcome the class. “Hi everyone! I hope you are all nice and refreshed for class this Monday. Did anyone do anything exciting this weekend?” T will give Ss a chance to share any fun and exciting stories that they had over the weekend. “Okay, now let’s have a quick review of what we were talking about last week in class…”
  • Activity: T will ask Ss about relevant and important topics covered in last class’ historical content on the American Civil War, such as “who was the General of the Confederates/Union?” “What were each of their goals?” “What was each side fighting for?” “Which side resided in which geographical location?”
  • Post-activity: T will have Ss turn to the person next to them in class and share one interesting historical fact that they did not cover in the class review that the Ss remember from last class or the homework. Ss will have an opportunity to volunteer and share their fact with the class.        
Evaluation: TWBAT gage Ss’ recollection of last lesson’s material by their enthusiasm to participate and answer and in the accuracy in the content of their responses to review questions.

TRANSITION: Now that we have had a quick review from last week, let’s move onto our first new activity of the day!...

  1. Content Word Stress (15 mins)
Objective: SWBAT listen to movies speeches to hear examples of content word stress and determine which content words are being stressed.
  • Pre-activity: T will present the idea of Content Words Stress. T will define content words as “words which carry the most importance in a sentence, phrase or thought group. Usually, they are nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. When we use these words in a sentence or thought group, we will help them to stand out by giving them a higher pitch, a louder sound, and a longer time of speech.”
  • Activity: T will present two videos about the Civil War from the YouTube links above.
o   First, Ss will watch both clips, one after the other and listen to find the content and meaning of the speeches. *T will note that the importance in this is that the meaning of the person’s speech can effect which content words they choose to stress.
o   The second time, the T will pass out a transcript sheet containing all of the words from both of the speeches. This time around, the Ss are going to be listening specifically for the Content Words that are being stressed. Ss should circle or underline the words that stand out to them as content words. *T will not that even if the words are not nouns and verbs, there is still a chance that grammar words can serve as function words depending on the pronunciation of the speaker.
  • Post-activity: Class will go over the content words that Ss circled as standing out in each speech. T will do this one speech at a time. *Note: T will explain that some Ss might have different answers because it can depend on the Ss hearing of the content words and their interpretation, bot overall, the content words should be generally emphasizing the main ideas of the thought groups, and words spoken with a higher pitch if not information words.
Evaluation: TWBAT determine Ss understanding of content words by their accuracy in word choices when they go over the stressed content words as a class.

TRANSITION: Okay, now that we have a good understanding of content word stress, were going to move onto some vocabulary…

  1. Civil War Vocab (10 mins )
Objectives: SWBAT speak and orally review the definitions of vocab words about the Civil War assigned to them as homework from last class.
  • Presentation: T will divide the class into two groups. This will come into play in the next activity when Ss use their vocab words to write speeches. T will divide the class in two groups by counting off in 1’s and 2’s. 1’s on the left side of the room, 2’s on the left. T will designate team 1 as the Confederates and team 2 as the Union. Each team will elect a General, who will come up to the front of the class and pick up their special vocab card with their special flag for each team. This will present the vocab that is being reviewed to the class.
  • Practice: T will ask Ss for definitions for each of the vocab words being reviewed. T will call on volunteers who looked up the words assigned as homework from the  last lesson.  Volunteers will share their answers orally.
  • Production: Ss will be applying the assigned vocab in the following activity…
Evaluation: TWBAT listen to Ss answers to determine the accuracy of their given definitions of vocab words.

TRANSITION: Now that we have reviewed the vocab words that you were assigned for homework last week, we are going to apply them in your next assignment…

  1. Writing the General’s Speech (20  mins)
Objective: SWBAT write a speech focusing on the vocab words learned in the lesson and the historical content learned in the last lesson. SWBAT deliver their speeches with a focus on content word stress.
  • Pre-activity: Ss think of words that they might use in their speech by brainstorming ideas that are associated with their side of the army. Ss will use the special markers to write on the poster board provided for the class. Each S should contribute at least 3 ideas. Ideas can either be written or drawn on the board.
  • Activity: After Ss have finished their brainstorming, they will begin to write an inspirational speech, spoken by the General, directed to his army.
o   Their speech should be a paragraph 8-10 sentences long and contain inspirational reasons for [why they are fighting (reasons), and their goals at the end of the battle/war.
o   Each speech should be tailored to the designated side of the army for which they are assigned, and should contain vocab and content relevant from the last lesson to support their ideas for reasons and goals].
  • Post-activity: Each army will have a chance to present their speech.
o   Team members will evenly divide parts of their speech and deliver it to the class. Ss focus during speech delivery will be on content word stress. 
o   After speech is finished Ss will hang their poster on the board on display to class with their ideas.
Evaluation: TWBAT determine if Ss have proper use of vocab words and accurate/appropriate use of historical content. TWBAT listen for Ss application of stress in content words in speech delivery.

CLOSING: Okay, great job today, class! Does anyone have any questions about anything we covered today? Okay great job and class dismissed! See you tomorrow!!
Assessment
  1. TWBAT determine Ss understanding of class content from last lesson by the accuracy in their responses to review questions.
  2. TWBAT hear Ss’ production of proper content word stress.
  3. TWBAT determine accuracy in Ss definitions of vocabulary words about the Civil War
  4. TWBAT read and correct Ss’ inspirational General’s speeches.
  5. TWBAT listen for content, vocab, and content word stress in Ss presentations of the General’s speech in front of the class.
Anticipated Problems
  1. Ss may not understand why some grammar words are used as content words.
Solution: T will explain that there is not always an exact pattern for this, but it depends on the rhythm of the speech and the speaker’s emotions. Point out examples for Ss to hear.

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English For All – Advanced
Writing Prompt and Presentation
May 9, 2012
General’s Speech
As an in class assignment, each side (both the Union and Confederacy) is required to write an inspirational speech given from the General to the soldiers. Their speech should be at least 8-10 sentences long and should contain the following:
1)      Reasons for why their team’s soldiers are participating in the war
2)      Their side’s goals for the end of the battle and/or war
3)      Vocabulary from the lesson
4)      Relevant content from the lesson on Civil War history used as supporting details
Each team’s speech should use supporting details that reinforce their own side’s position in the war, not their opponents. Remember that the General’s goal in this speech is to motivate and inspire his army to win the battle.
Presentation
After each side has completed writing their General’s speech, the speech will be divided evenly amongst group members and presented in front of the class. Presentations will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1)               Speaking time is evenly divided amongst all members
2)               Speakers will use appropriate Content Word Stress throughout the speech
3)               Sides will display their poster boards in front of the class 

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