Digital Unit Plan

Unit Title: The Victorian Era Content Area: English Literature

Name: Aubrey Simons

Grade Level: 12

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s): 1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain. 2. Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text. 3. Analyze the impact of the authors choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters/archetypes are introduced and developed). Big Ideas

What was the 19th century like in England? What challenges faced the Victorians, and how did they respond? What were some of the answers England came up with for its social problems, and did they work? Are the themes addressed in Victorian literature still relevant today?
Unit Goals and Objectives: 1. Become familiar with 19th century British culture. 2. Recognize common themes from the Victorian Era and analyze how those themes are expressed in the literature. 3. Use creative outlets including papers, presentations, and group projects to interpret and apply what they have gained from the Victorian authors in a relevant and thought-provoking way.

Unit Summary:

Through lectures, in-class activities, reading, and projects students will learn about Victorian literature and gain experience in interpreting authors intent through analysis. They will learn about the common themes and issues facing Victorians at the time, and will apply their knowledge through a variety of entry-level, formative and summative assignments designed to build critical thinking skills and to help students make connections to their own lives.

Assessment Plan: Entry-Level: Quick Write Cotton Anyone? Response assignment Lesson 1
Student Learning Objective:

Formative: Reading quizzes Raft Journals

Reading Guides

Summative: Graphic Organizer Comparison write-up: Religion and Hypocrisy Presentation

Acceptable Evidence: Become familiar with 19th Students will learn about century British culture. the history of the Victorian Era and the issues in society through an online presentation and participate in class activities.
Lesson 2 Student Learning Objective:

Instructional Strategies: Communication Collection Collaboration Presentation Organization Interaction

Lesson Activities: Lecture/powerpoint presentation will be used to express the information. Students will work in groups to answer discussion questions about issues Victorians faced, including child-labor, poverty, and class structure, and relate them to today: Do we still face these issues in modern American culture? In other cultures? Etc. Quick write: Students will have ten minutes in class to respond to two questions about the presentation and what their thoughts are. Lesson Activities: Begin discussions about Jane Eyre: What kind of a girl is Jane? How well does she fit into Victorian standards? What Victorian themes do we see addressed? Journal: In what ways does Jane respond to the people around her in a Victorian fashion? In what ways does she go against Victorian codes?

Acceptable Evidence:

Recognize common themes from the Victorian Era and analyze how those themes are expressed in the literature.
Lesson 3

Students will complete assignments such as the comparison write-up and graphic organizer that show their understanding of the themes presented in Jane Eyre Acceptable Evidence: Students will prepare for a presentation about how one issue in Victorian England is dealt with in literature, and how it relates to us today.

Instructional Strategies: Communication Collection Collaboration Presentation Organization Interaction

Student Learning Objective: Students will use creative outlets including papers, presentations, and group projects to interpret and apply what they have gained from the Victorian authors in a relevant and thought-provoking way.

Instructional Strategies: Communication Collection Collaboration Presentation Organization Interaction

Lesson Activities: We will discuss the books themes of marriage, education, passion versus restraint, religion, and others in class. Students will form groups and be assigned issues to research. They will use Jane Eyre as one of their sources and will choose one other book from a provided list to use for research. Things to think about: How is this issue or theme (for example marriage) portrayed in Jane Eyre? What do you think Bronte might be saying about this issue? In your second book is the issue portrayed differently? What message might that author be giving?

Unit Resources:

Main Book Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte Options for Group Project Hard Times Charles Dickens Little Dorrit Charles Dickens North and South Elizabeth Gaskell Mansfield Park Jane Austen Woman in White Willkie Collins

Useful Websites:

Resources for Victorian Literature Class website http://missaubreysenglish.weebly.com/ http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/MediaCenter/electronic/pathfinders/english/great_ex/great_expectations.htm This website has many links relating to the Victorian Era that will be helpful in your different assignments. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/janeeyre/ This website gives information about the Masterpiece Theatre version of Jane Eyre (a must watch!) but it also has links that talk about Victorian themes and how they relate to the book (like governesses, etc). This could be very helpful in your research for your presentation