Curriculum / ELA / 9th Grade / Unit 7: The Bluest Eye / Lesson 30

The Bluest Eye

Lesson 30

ELA

Unit 7

9th Grade

Lesson 30 of 30

These assessments accompany this unit to help gauge student understanding of key unit content and skills.

Content Assessment

The Content Assessment tests students' ability to read a "cold" or unfamiliar passage and answer multiple choice and short answer questions. Additionally, a longer writing prompt pushes students to synthesize unit content knowledge or unit essential questions in writing. The Content Assessment should be used as the primary assessment because it shows mastery of unit content knowledge and standards. This assessment should take approximately one class period.

Lesson 29

Lesson Map

Explain how a society’s reaction to difference impacts the individuals in that society.

“The Eye of the Beholder”
“What Do We Do with a Variation?”

Explain Morrison’s purpose for beginning her novel with an excerpt from the Dick and Jane stories.

Explain how the author’s decision to alter the excerpt helps to preview the theme of the novel.

The Bluest Eye — "Dick and Jane" epigraph

Examine Morrison’s use of seeds and flowers as symbols, and to explain how she uses them to convey meaning in the Introduction.

The Bluest Eye
“Toni Morrison Biography”

Explain how Morrison characterizes the narrator and the MacTeer family.

The Bluest Eye pp. 9–16

Examine Morrison’s use of metaphor and simile to introduce characters in this chapter. They will also be able to juxtapose the author’s introduction of Pecola with that of other characters and infer the author’s purpose.

The Bluest Eye pp. 16–18 — close reading (end before “We had fun…”)

Explain what Claudia’s treatment of the white dolls reveals about Claudia.

The Bluest Eye pp. 19–23

Summarize the central idea of the article, “How an Experiment With Dolls Helped Lead to School Integration" and compare these findings with the narrator’s reaction to her own doll.

The Bluest Eye pp. 23–27
“How an Experiment with Dolls ...”

Explain how the author develops the themes of powerlessness and love in these pages.

The Bluest Eye pp. 27–32

Explain the impact of the author’s choice of structure and narration.

The Bluest Eye pp. 33–37

Explain Pecola’s motivations for desiring blue eyes.

The Bluest Eye pp. 38–47

Explain how Morrison uses symbolism to convey theme in this chapter.

The Bluest Eye pp. 47–58

Trace the characterization of Maureen Peal and explain how her character develops the themes of beauty and racism.

The Bluest Eye pp. 61–69

Analyze Morrison’s characterization of Geraldine and Junior.

The Bluest Eye pp. 80–93
The Migration Series

Discuss some of the major themes and events of the text in order to prepare for the mid-unit assessment.

Craft an essay in response to the prompt.

Analyze the juxtaposition of the “Spring” title and the events of the chapter. Students will be able to analyze the interaction between the girls and the Maginot Line.

The Bluest Eye pp. 97–104

Explain how Morrison uses the motif of houses and homes to develop the themes of the novel.

The Bluest Eye pp. 105–109

Explain how Pauline Breedlove became the mother who abuses her daughter so mercilessly.

The Bluest Eye pp. 110–121

Trace the symbol of dreams as it is used in this chapter.

The Bluest Eye pp. 121–131

Explain how the structure of the novel contributes to the plot and theme.

Gather evidence of Morrison’s characterization of Cholly’s early life.

The Bluest Eye pp. 132–142

Read an informational text and uncover the central idea of the article.

“What it Means to Be a Man”

Explain how the events of this chapter develop the themes of power/powerlessness and beauty/love.

The Bluest Eye pp. 143–153

Analyze what happens to Cholly when he meets his father, and to explain in what way Cholly is “free” and not free in these pages.

The Bluest Eye pp. 154–161 — Top of page

Analyze Morrison’s purpose in including this scene at this point in the text.

The Bluest Eye pp. 161–163

Analyze Morrison’s characterization of Soaphead Church and explain how it reveals the themes of beauty and racism.

The Bluest Eye pp. 164–175

Explain how Morrison develops the symbolism of seeds and seasons in this chapter of the text.

Summarize the central idea of an excerpt of the article.

The Bluest Eye pp. 187–192
“Between the World and Me”

Analyze the impact that racism had on Pecola Breedlove.

The Bluest Eye pp. 193–206

Analyze the poem “Harlem” and compare its theme to the themes represented in the novel.

The Bluest Eye
“Harlem”

Review for the unit exam by having a class discussion on the major themes and events of the novel.

Content Assessment

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