Lesson 1 | Fahrenheit 451 | 10th Grade English

Objective

Analyze how Plato uses symbolism to convey ideas about ignorance and knowledge.

Readings and Materials

Excerpt: Allegory of the Cave by Plato
Video: “Plato's Allegory of the Cave” — Ted-Ed

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Discussion & Writing Prompt

What does the cave symbolize in Plato's Allegory of the Cave? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your ideas and carefully explain your thinking.

Criteria for Success

Identifies that the cave symbolizes ignorance and lack of knowledge
- Explains that inside the cave, the prisoners are ignorant to the truth, believing that the shadows are real
- Explains that outside the cave, the freed prisoner gains knowledge and learns the truth

Sample Response

An example response to the Target Task at the level of detail expected of the students.

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Key Thinking

Key thinking students do about today's reading.

Close Read Questions

Read paragraphs 1–14 of the text. What is the situation for the prisoners inside the cave?

Read paragraphs 15–28. What are the stages of the freed prisoner's experience outside the cave?

Read paragraphs 27–33. How does the freed prisoner's experience outside the cave impact his sense of self and his relationship with the other prisoners?

Vocabulary

Literary terms, text-based vocabulary, idioms and word parts to be taught with the text

Literary Terms

allegory

a story that has a "hidden meaning" that communicates a message about society, politics, or human nature

symbol

a character, setting, object, or event that represents something other than itself, i.e. a larger, more complex concept or idea

Enhanced Lesson Plan

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Standards

RL.9-10.2 — 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.

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.9-10.2 — 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.
RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Reading Standards for Literature

RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Supporting Standards

Standards that are practiced daily but are not priority standards of the unit

L.9-10.1

L.9-10.6

RL.9-10.10

SL.9-10.1

SL.9-10.6

W.9-10.9

W.9-10.10

Lesson 2

Lesson Map

Allegory of the Cave
“Plato's Allegory of the Cave” — Ted-Ed

Analyze how Plato uses symbolism to convey ideas about ignorance and knowledge.

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 — pp. xi – xii — "Introduction" by Neil Gaiman
“Why Teens Find the End of the World So Appealing”
“The Pedestrian”

Analyze how Bradbury uses characterization and imagery to convey his central message about technology in the short story "The Pedestrian."

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 1 – 7 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

Analyze how Bradbury uses characterization of Montag and Clarisse to introduce larger ideas about this society.

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 8 – 28 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

Analyze how the characterization of Mildred introduces Bradbury's theme of technology.

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 39 – 49 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

Analyze how events and descriptive details show a development in Montag's character.

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 50 – 65 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

Identify the main arguments about communication, censorship, and happiness in Beatty's speech and what his ideas reveal about his character.

RI.9-10.7 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

“I Am Very Real”

Analyze how Vonnegut uses rhetorical appeals to advance his central argument on censorship.

RI.9-10.2 RI.9-10.4 RI.9-10.6

Assessment: Socratic Seminar

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 1 – 65 — "Part 1: The Hearth and the Salamander"

Engage in a Socratic seminar on Part 1 considering the larger themes and symbols in Fahrenheit 451 and supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

SL.9-10.1 SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.1.b SL.9-10.1.c SL.9-10.1.d SL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 67 – 89 — "Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand"

Analyze how Bradbury uses imagery and figurative language to characterize Faber and his relationship with Montag.

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 89 – 106 — "Part 2: The Sieve and the Sand"

Analyze how two key scenes reveal Montag's dual personality at the end of Part 2.

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4 RL.9-10.5

Writing

Fahrenheit 451 — "The Sieve and the Sand"

Unpack a writing prompt and use a graphic organizer to gather evidence in preparation for a two-paragraph response.

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.3 W.9-10.1 W.9-10.5

Writing

Fahrenheit 451 — "The Sieve and the Sand"

Outline a two-paragraph response, including a strong topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and a concluding statement.

W.9-10.1 W.9-10.5 W.9-10.9

Writing

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 67 – 106 — "The Sieve and the Sand"
Argumentative Writing: Literary Analysis Paragraph 9-12 (G10, U1)

Draft and revise a two-paragraph response analyzing Montag's transformation in "The Sieve and the Sand."

W.9-10.1 W.9-10.5

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 106 – 130 — "Part 3: Burning Bright"

Analyze Montag's thoughts, feelings, and behavior during the climactic scenes of the novel.

RL.9-10.3

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 130 – 148 — "Part 3: Burning Bright"

Analyze how Bradbury uses symbolism and imagery to convey important ideas.

RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4

Fahrenheit 451 pp. 148 – 158 — "Part 3: Burning Bright"

Analyze how the imagery and symbolism Bradbury uses at the end of the novel contribute to important themes.

RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.4

Assessment: Free Response

Fahrenheit 451
Markers or crayons
Colored Pencils
8.5 x 11 inch white paper
One-Pager Rubric

Complete a one-pager that demonstrates your interpretation of and analysis of key elements of Fahrenheit 451.

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.3 RL.9-10.4 W.9-10.2 W.9-10.9

Assessment: Performance Task

Fahrenheit 451
“Above the Noise: How is Tech Changing the Way We Read”
“Screen Time Up as Reading Scores Drop”
“Police love Google's surveillance data. Here's how to protect yourself”
“An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness”
“The truth about teens, social media and the mental health crisis”
“Is Technology Causing Our Unhappiness?”

Read and annotate nonfiction articles, using a graphic organizer to identify similarities and/or differences between the issue discussed in the articles and how it is depicted in Fahrenheit 451.

W.9-10.1 W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8 W.9-10.9

Assessment: Performance Task

Point by Point Outline Graphic Organizer
Argumentative Essay Rubric (G10, U1)

Draft thesis statements and outline an argumentative essay.

W.9-10.1 W.9-10.7 W.9-10.8 W.9-10.9

Assessment: Performance Task

Draft an argumentative essay using strong transitional words/phrases and evidence from nonfiction texts.

W.9-10.1 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.9-10.1.c W.9-10.1.d

Assessment: Performance Task

Create a works cited page for an argumentative essay.

W.9-10.8

"If This Goes On..." Technology, Truth, and Happiness in Fahrenheit 451

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Discussion & Writing Prompt

Criteria for Success

Sample Response

Key Thinking

Close Read Questions

Vocabulary

Literary Terms

Enhanced Lesson Plan

Standards

Reading Standards for Literature

Reading Standards for Literature

Supporting Standards

Language Standards

Language Standards

Reading Standards for Literature

Speaking and Listening Standards

Speaking and Listening Standards

Writing Standards

Writing Standards

Lesson Map

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