Student Group Activity

Kaitlyn Pierson
Emily Sadowski
September 14, 2016
An Analysis of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
English Language Arts/ Grade 8
Description of the Activity: Students will work in pairs to answer questions and analyze the
text. Student will relate the text to their own lives and reflect on their choices.
Objective: The students will analyze The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1915) by
examining and citing the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the
text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Common Core Standards:
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and
teacher-led) with diverse partners on g
rade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others ideas
and expressing their own clearly.
a.
Come to discussions prepared having read or researched material under study; explicitly
draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect
on ideas under discussion.
b.
Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific
goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
c.
Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers and respond to others'
questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas.
d.
Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and, when warranted, qualify or justify
their own views in light of the evidence presented. ( 8.SL.1)
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly
as well as inferences drawn from the text. (8.RI.1)
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal
aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. (8.RL.3)
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems,
at the high end of grades 68 text complexity band independently and proficiently. ( 8.RL.10)
How Will I Assign groups:
Students will be paired with their elbow partners on their left side starting from the front right
side of the room. If there is an odd number of students, then one group will have three students.

After 30 seconds, the auditory signal of Ladies and Gentlemen will be given. Once students
have found their elbow partner, they will sit with their partner and wait quietly for further
instruction.
Roundtable:
Once the students have found their elbow partners, they will sit together with the poem, a
sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and their class notes. The students will determine who is
student A and student B based on their last names alphabetically. Student A will be the
recorder and student B will be the summarizer. Student A will listen and record the answers
for student B and then when the timer goes off the students will switch jobs. Student B will be
the recorder and listen to student A and write down their answers, initialing after their
responses.The teacher will ask a series of questions. The group must decide on an answer and
write it down on the sheet of paper, and the recorder will record it, then the partners switch.
After 8 minutes, the auditory signal of Ladies and Gentlemen will be given. The students will
stop working and be prepared to review and discuss answers as a class. At the end of class,
students will turn their group paper into the inbox.The teacher will check for understanding of
the group activity procedure.
Ask:
- How will you find your elbow partner?
- How will you rotate within your group?
- What notes and materials are you going to use for this assignment?
- How long do you and your partner have to answer the questions?
- Where/When do you turn your paper in?
- Can someone please summarize the expectations for this activity?
Teacher will check for understanding and clarify any questions.
Materials Needed:
Sheet of paper
Pen or pencil
Classroom notes defining key vocabulary, annotations, archetypes, and central ideas
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Directions to Post for Students
1. Students will have one sheet of paper and two writing utensils. Both students will write their
names on the top right corner of the paper.
2. Student A will be the recorder and student B will be the summarizer. Student A will
listen and record the answers for student B and then when the timer goes off the students will
switch jobs. Student B will be the recorder and listen to student A and write down their

answers. Each student will initial after their responses, so that it can be verified that each
student is participating in recording the answers.
3. As a group, the students will work together and answer the following:
- Describe a time in your life where you had to make a difficult choice between two different
paths. Explain why it was a difficult choice.
- Would you go back and do it again if you could?
- Did you regret the decision you made? Why?
4. T
he students will turn in questions to the Inbox on their way out of class.