Unit Plan Overview (Hour 1)

Teacher Name: Julia McKee

Subject: English
Topic of Unit: The Odyssey
How does the unit connect to the lives of the students: Although The Odyssey is an ancient
story, there are still relevant themes. This unit can help my students understand concepts like
loyalty, compassion, self-control, and perseverance and apply these concepts to their own lives.
Overall Goals: To engage students in the genre of epic poetry and use The Odyssey to further
their informative writing skills and cognitive ability to understand themes presented in literature.
Common Core Expectations:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.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).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse
partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9-10 reading and content,
choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1.C
Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between
claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.4
Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of
reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with
other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5
Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time
(e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Specific objectives:
Define the terms epic hero and epic poetry
Identify 12 Greek gods/goddesses (see the last sheet for specific gods/goddesses)
Answer written questions related to heroism
Complete a written response of a series of what if questions that relate to The Odyssey
Verbally explain their what if worksheets to each other and then to the class as a whole.
Connect the what if worksheet to The Odyssey by making a prediction about the text
Read and annotate book I and book II (condensed versions) of The Odyssey.
Write answers to questions about book I and book II.
Engage in meaningful discussion about The Odyssey.
Apply their annotations of The Odyssey to song lyrics.
Identify two major themes from the text.
Identify three major events from the text.
Form song lyrics that apply their understanding of the text creatively in a more modern fashion.

Present a song written about the first two books of The Odyssey.
Work together as a group to create a written understanding of a text.

Evidence that students met the objectives: (updated)

Mythology story work sheet
What if work sheet
Students will turn in their annotations for a grade
Students will turn in their song lyric outline and pre-write work sheet
Song lyrics
Presentation of song lyrics
Updated Lessons:
1. Introduction to Mythology and Epic Poetry
2. Introduction to characters, plots and settings (understanding The Odyssey)
3. Book I & II reading and introduction
4. Book I & II annotations and song introduction
5. Book I & II song completion