Conch Activity

Day of the Unit Day #5

Students’ Prior Students will have prior knowledge of:
Knowledge 1. Classroom schedule
2. Lord of the Flies​ Ch.1 & 2
3. Discussion Questions

Lesson Objective(s) SWBAT participate effectively in collaborative discussions

with diverse partners

SWBAT build on each other’s ideas and express their own

throughout collaborative discussions

SWBAT work with peers to create norms for classroom

discussions
FA Discussion Norms List
Standards 1. ​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.

2. ​CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.B​:​ Work with peers to set

rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g.,
informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation
of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual
roles as needed.
Materials Needed 1. Class set ​Lord of the Flies
2. Conch Discussion Reflection Padlet Link
3. Dry Erase Marker
4. Conch
5. Scissors
6. Group Rules/Guidelines Handout
7. Individual phones

Time Learning Task Methods or Procedures

00-30 The Conch Activity:
Analyzing the symbolism of
the conch in Ch. 1 & 2 of LotF
1. Teacher pulls up the class slides
on the board before students
arrive.
2. Once everyone has arrived,
Teacher informs the students
that they will be spending the
 class period discussing the conch
and how it is used in LotF,
emphasising the fact that they
will be doing so in the style of
the boys themselves (holding up
the conch).
3. They instruct the students to
move the desks so that there is
more room for the discussion to
take place.
4. Next, Teacher switches to the
next slide of the presentation
and divides the students up into
their groups. Each group
receives a copy of the ​Group
Rules/Guidelines Handout​ of
their section and proceeds to
select their leaders. Teacher
takes this time to walk around
the room and double check that
everyone understands what is
expected of them.
5. Once everyone is prepared to
move onto the actual discussion,
Teacher switches to the next
slide with the discussion
questions and places the conch
in the middle of the group. They
remind the students to follow
their rules closely and highlights
the fact that only those who hold
the conch are allowed to speak
before asking students to begin.
The questions are as follows: 1)
What do we know about the
conch? 2) How is it used? 3)
What might it symbolize? How
can we tell? 4) Does the conch
have power? Why?
6. Students participate in the
discussion while Teacher
watches. (Teacher should only
interrupt to smooth over any
complications or large lulls in
conversation that arise).
30-45 Padlet Reflection: 1. Next, Teacher has students
1. In one word, describe return to their seats. (This may
how you felt about this take a moment as they will need
experience? to put them pack in order)
2. Did you get a chance to 2. Teacher switches the slide and
talk? instructs students to pull out
3. Do you think it’s their phones for the reflection.
possible to have Students should then use the
productive instructions on the board to get
conversations with the to the ​Conch Discussion
rules/guidelines the Reflection Padlet​ and begin
LofF boys use? Why? sharing their ideas with each
4. How might the boys in other. Once everyone is on the
LotF improve upon padlet, Teacher switches to it
these rules/guidelines? too.
3. After about 8 minutes, students
should go through their peers
posts and like or comment on
any that resonate with them.
45- 55 Building Discussion Norms: 1. Next, Teacher informs students
that we will be creating our own
discussion rules/guidelines
called norms: “How might we
learn from the mistakes of the
boys in the novel? What norms
do we need in order to have a
productive discussion?”
2. Teacher asks for a student
volunteer to come up and write
their peers’ responses on the
board.
3. Before students leave, Teacher
informs them that everyone will
be receiving a copy of their
norms for their folder and that
they will be displayed in the
classroom at all times.