SATIRE INTRODUCTION- March 9 

LESSON FOCUS  “The Butter Battle Book” and Satire introduction  COURSE  ELA 20-1 
 
Lesson duration: 80 min 

PROGRAM OF STUDY OUTCOMES  

2.1.1b: describe how societal forces can influence the production of texts [for example, current issues and trends] 
2.1.2b: describe how supporting ideas and supporting details strengthen a text’s controlling idea 
2.1.2e: describe a text creator’s tone and register; and identify the moral and ethical stance communicated by a text 
2.2.2c: analyze the use of irony and satire to create effects in print and nonprint texts [for example, dramatic irony to create 
suspense, verbal irony to create humour, and satire to evoke response] 
2.2.2g: analyze persuasive techniques used in a variety of print and nonprint texts 
5.1.1b: explain how language and images are used in literature and other texts to convey respectful and considerate, or 
disrespectful and inconsiderate, perspectives and attitudes [for example, parody or journalistic bias in print, visual and 
multimedia texts] 
5.1.2b: explain how selected works of literature and other print and nonprint texts convey, shape and, at times, challenge 
individual and group values and behaviours 

KEY QUESTIONS AND GOALS 

SWBAT: 
- Describe satire 
- Recognize satirical examples in “The Butter Battle Book” 
- Interpret reasons for an author to create satire based on current issues and trends 
- Analyze the position of the author within “The Better Butter Book” and determine the perspective 

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT 

Dr. Seuss’s “The Butter Battle Book”- obtained from ULeth Library 
Post-it notes 
Cloze notes for Satire concepts 
Slideshow for cloze notes 
Students’ phones/personal devices to use for intro search 
Resources used: 
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/from-seuss-jonathan-swift-936.html?tab=4#tabs 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION (20MIN) 

Students will begin by reading for 10 minutes silently 

As we are constantly bombarded with the latest and greatest in literally everything, sometimes it’s nice to take it back to the 
basics and read something more simple, and something we potentially remember from our childhoods. “The Butter Battle 
Book” was written by Dr. Seuss in 1984. 

-Allow for comments re: other Dr. Seuss books, if students remember any of them from childhood 

Now, 1984 may sound like a familiar year- take 10 minutes to do a google search of 1984 and find something eventful or 
meaningful that happened in 1984- pop it on a post-it and pop it on the board 

After students have put up their post-its, look for the general trends- should have some mention of the Cold War, Russian and 
American politics, big and bad stuff 

- Other notable things: The Oilers won the Stanley Cup (YAHOO!), the Soviet Union boycotts the Olympics, United States 
President Ronald Reagan, during a voice check for a radio broadcast remarks, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you 
today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes". 

- The threat of nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union was at an all time high, and people were feeling it all over the 
world. 

BODY (55 MIN) 

READING OF THE BOOK (30  “The Butter Battle Book” takes about 20 minutes to read, while stopping for comments and 
questions along the way. 
min) 
Discussion afterwards, in a Think-Pair-Share:  
- What message was Seuss trying to convey through this book? 
- What did the ending convey? 
- Based on what you know about Dr. Seuss’s other books, who do you think is the target audience 
for this book? 
- What events do you see mirrored in the book? Past or present 
Introduction of Satire: distribute note packets 

SATIRE NOTES (25 min)  5 minute break to get up, check phone, get notes packet and get ready for some notes 
Starting to fill out cloze notes 
- This book is a great example of satire based on the definition of satire, which is a literary work 
that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques such as exaggeration, reversal, 
incongruity, and/or parody in order to make a comment or criticism about it. 
- Where else have you heard the term satire? When you think of satire, what does it make you 
think of? 
- Get students to start thinking of “fake news”- play “Tim Horton’s Tips” video 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXyWrTQdVIA) 
- What is the criticism being made? What is the “solution” for the problem?  
 CONCLUSION/ CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEXT CLASS (5 MIN) 

Exit slip on a post-it note- what was BBB really about and how did it convey the message? 

ASSESSMENT 

Formative: ​Exit slip, students’ participation and filling out of notes 

Summative: 
 

REFLECTION