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Klara and the Sun: Heart, Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI
Students will explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about loneliness, love, faith, and mortality in Klara and the Sun.
ELA
Unit 2
12th Grade
Unit Summary
The core text Klara and the Sun fits within the year-long focus On Being Human, as Ishiguro explores elements of the human condition such as loneliness, love, faith, hope, and mortality through the perspective of Klara, an "Artificial Friend." As a highly observant robot, Klara provides deep insight into the complexity of human emotions and relationships. She also illustrates the power of faith in giving people hope during dire times. Through the novel's futuristic setting, Ishiguro has readers grapple with the benefits and harms of technological advancement on relationships, education, and the environment. Klara and the Sun, therefore, invites students to make connections to real-life, contemporary issues related to technology, such as AI, educational disparities, cloning, and electronic waste.
Prior to reading the novel, students will activate prior knowledge about AI, as well as watch a CBS Reports video to build background knowledge about the dangers and benefits of AI through different speakers' perspectives. They will also read excerpts from Frankenstein to analyze how Mary Shelley's novel remains a cautionary tale for scientists and tech innovators. While reading Klara and the Sun, students will analyze how Ishiguro uses narration, diction, characterization, and structure to develop themes about the human condition. Additionally, they will engage with supplemental nonfiction articles about issues relevant to the novel, and they will generate their own questions that the novel and supplemental texts spark for them. Ultimately, for the final performance task, students will perform research on one of their self-generated questions and write an explanatory research essay.
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Texts and Materials
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Core Materials
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Book: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Supporting Materials
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Video: “The ChatGPT Revolution” (CBS Reports)
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Excerpt: Excerpts from Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
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Resource: Why Frankenstein Matters (Stanford Medicine)
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Article: “Could AI help cure 'downward spiral' of human loneliness?” by Ian Sample (The Guardian)
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Article: “How COVID taught America about inequity in education” by Clea Simon (The Harvard Gazette)
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Podcast: “If By Chance We Meet Again” by Ira Glass (This American Life)
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Poem: “(First Trimester)” by Craig Santos Perez (Poetry Foundation)
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Poem: “From 'understory'” by Craig Santos Perez (Poetry Foundation)
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Resource: Sentence Stems for Academic Discourse
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Resource: Research Essay Outline (G12, U2, L25)
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Resource: Research Essay Mentor Text (G12, U2)
- Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Assessment
These assessments accompany Unit 2 and should be given on the days suggested in the Lesson Map. Additionally, there are formative and creative assessments integrated into the unit to prepare students for the Performance Task.
Socratic Seminar
The Socratic Seminar assesses students on their ability to push themselves and their peers to think critically and participate meaningfully in conversation by collecting and evaluating evidence, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully. Socratic Seminar assessments may occur mid-unit as a way to synthesize the ideas of the text/unit to that point or summative, taking place at the end of a unit.
Performance Task
The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to show the skills and content they have learned.
Unit Prep
Intellectual Prep
Essential Questions
- To what extent can love be created artificially?
- What are the benefits of technological progress? What are the costs?
- What is the role of faith in the human condition?
Vocabulary
Text-based
arduousdisparitiesengrossedfathomimpedeimplicationjeopardizekeenmarginalizedqualmreprimand
Literary Terms
foreshadowingfoilliterary point of viewmoodscience fictionsymboltheme
To see all the vocabulary for Unit 2, view our 12th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.
Supporting All Students
In order to ensure that all students are able to access the texts and tasks in this unit, it is incredibly important to intellectually prepare to teach the unit prior to launching the unit. Use the guidance provided under 'Notes for Teachers' below in addition to the Unit Launch to determine which supports students will need at the unit and lesson level. To learn more, visit the Supporting All Students Teacher Tool.
Lesson Map
Perform research about a self-generated question relevant to the Unit's Texts.
- Research Essay Graphic Organizer (G12, U2, L24)
Standards
W.11-12.7W.11-12.8
Perform research about a self-generated question relevant to the Unit's Texts.
- Research Essay Graphic Organizer (G12, U2, L24)
- Self-Generated Questions Graphic Organizer (G12, U2)
Standards
Perform research about a self-generated question relevant to the Unit's Texts.
- Research Essay Graphic Organizer (G12, U2, L24)
Standards
Common Core Standards
Core Standards
Supporting Standards
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