PROJECT OVERVIEW

Name of Project: Grins and Lies: Exploring the Masks We Wear Duration: 18 Days
Subject/Course: English III Teacher(s): Foster Grade Level: 11

Other subject areas to US History – Race relations post Civil War

be included, if any: Chemistry – Characteristics of Elements
Art

Project Idea After watching a video and reading a poem about the metaphorical masks we wear, students will create their own literal masks. On
Summary of the project & the outside, they will decorate the mask to highlight the characteristics of the face they show the world in a particular social context.
scenario Perhaps the face they show at school or to their families. On the inside, they will select a chemical element to represent their true
identity. Additionally, students will write a first-person story that makes use of the chemical element as a metaphor and that
demonstrates the conflict between appearance and reality.

Content and Skills 5.A, B, C

Standards to be
addressed: 14.A

21st Century Skills E: Productivity and Accountability: Manage Project

taught and assessed A: Productivity and Accountability: Produce Results
(T+A) or encouraged (E) E: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Solve Problems
by project work, but not A: Initiative and Self-Direction: Manage Goals and Time
taught or assessed: E: Initiative and Self-Direction: Work Independently

Driving Question How do the masks we wear tell a story that expresses or conceals our true identity or feelings?

Culminating Products and Performances Audience:

Group Product: Requirements: N/A

Individual Requirements: Teacher, Other Students

Product: TSW create a mask that shows how they appear to others on the outside and how they see
themselves (their true identity) on the inside.
TSW select a chemical element to represent their true identity and this element will be featured on the
inside of the mask.
TSW write a fictional story in first person point of view, using the chemical element as a metaphor, with
a conflict between appearance and reality.

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Entry event QW: “Do we show our true selves to others?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=189&v=ikGVWEvUzNM

Pre-Assessment Kahoot about elements of a story and metaphor

PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE

NTK – Knowledge and Skills Needed by Students Scaffolding / Materials / Lessons Formative
Direct Teach – Workshop - DIY Assessment

What is a mask?  WKSP: Techniques for making and decorating

masks
After-school mask session

What is a story?  DT: Elements of short stories Reading Check

DIY: Read and Annotate “Occurrence at Owl Creek “Owl”
Bridge” Reading Check
DIY: Read and Annotate “The Yellow Wallpaper” “Yellow”

What is the conflict between appearance and reality?  QW: “How do we know what is real?”
WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in “Owl”
QW: “What would you do if no one believed you?”
WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in “Yellow”

What is a metaphor?  DT: Metaphor “We Wear the Mask”

DIY: Read and Annotate “We Wear the Mask”
WKSP: Close Read, Metaphor, Conflict

What are the characteristics of chemical elements?  Cross Curricular Connection: Chemistry In Chemistry

What is first-person point-of-view?  DT: POV in “Owl”

DT: POV in “Yellow,” Narrator in “Yellow”

What is conflict?  QW: “Do we show our true selves to others?”

DT: Conflict “We Wear the Mask”

What is MY appearance? What is MY reality?  DIY: T-Chart Appearance vs. Reality Mask Plan
PRODUCT: Mask Mask Progress

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 Check
Final Mask

What chemical element represents my true identity?  Cross Curricular Connection: Chemistry In Chemistry
DIY: Selecting a chemical element metaphor Element Selection
Check

What is MY story?  DIY: Story Brainstorming Story Plan

PRODUCT: Story Story Progress
Check
Final Story

Summative Assessment: Reflection Activities

Unit Test Written Reflection and Socratic Seminar

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 P R O J E C T C A L E N D A R
Project: Grins and Lies Start Date: 9/8

M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W ED N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y
PROJECT WEEK ONE
7 8 PROJECT LAUNCH 9 10 11

Pre-Assessment (9/4) DT: Metaphor & Conflict “We Wear DIY: T-Chart Appearance vs. Reality
the Mask”
QW: “Do we show our true selves to WKSP: Techniques for making and
others?” DIY: Read and Annotate “We Wear decorating masks
the Mask”
Video
WKSP: Close Read, Metaphor,
Launch Document, Rubric, NTK, Conflict
Resources

PROJECT WEEK TWO

14 15 16 1SW IWAs 17 WWTW 32 18

QW: “How do we know what is real?” Silent Sustained Reading Reading Check “Owl” DIY: Story Brainstorming Story Plan

DT: Elements of short stories
DT: POV in “Owl”
DIY: Read and Annotate “Occurrence
at Owl Creek Bridge”
Element Selection Check WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in
“Owl”
Mask Plan Check
After-school mask session

PROJECT WEEK THREE

21 22 23 1SW CBR 24 25

QW: “What would you do if no one Reading Check “Yellow” Mask Progress Check Story Progress Check
believed you?”
WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in
DT: POV in “Yellow,” Narrator in “Yellow”
“Yellow”

DIY: Read and Annotate “The Yellow

Wallpaper”

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 PROJECT WEEK FOUR
28 29 30 1 WWTW 33 2

Project Work Day Final Mask Unit Test Written Reflection and Socratic
Seminar
Final Story

Review

LESSONS MATERIALS
DIRECT TEACH – WORKSHOPS -- DIY
LESSON MATERIALS

WKSP: Techniques for making and decorating masks  Handout about materials and techniques for decorating masks.
After-school mask session Instructions for making papier-mâché and/or plaster masks

DT: Elements of short stories  DT: Notes

DIY: Read and Annotate “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” DIY Handout
DIY: Read and Annotate “The Yellow Wallpaper” DIY Handout

QW: “How do we know what is real?”  Handout Owl

WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in “Owl” Handout Yellow
QW: “What would you do if no one believed you?”
WKSP: Appearance vs. Reality in “Yellow”

DT: Metaphor “We Wear the Mask”  DT: Notes on Metaphor

DIY: Read and Annotate “We Wear the Mask” DIY Handout
WKSP: Close Read, Metaphor, Conflict Notes Close Read, Metaphor, Conflict

Cross Curricular Connection: Chemistry 

DT: POV in “Owl”  DT: Notes Owl

DT: POV in “Yellow,” Narrator in “Yellow” DT: Notes Yellow

QW: “Do we show our true selves to others?”  DT: Notes Conflict “We Wear the Mask”
DT: Conflict “We Wear the Mask”

DIY: T-Chart Appearance vs. Reality  DIY Handout

PRODUCT: Mask Launch Document
Rubric

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 NTK Handout

Cross Curricular Connection: Chemistry  DIY Handout

DIY: Selecting a chemical element metaphor

DIY: Story Brainstorming  DIY Handout

PRODUCT: Story Launch Document
Rubric
NTK Handout

Unit Test  My HRW Assessments

Reflection and Socratic Seminar  Reflection Handout