Catching Fire
This is one of my favorite activities that I have done in the classroom, and I hope you have the opportunity to use this at some point during your instruction.
Co-teacher Cary Edington and I designed this activity for two 8th grade special education English courses. Since many of the students were often disengaged, we used this kinesthetic activity to get students out of their seats and moving.
This activity is based in prediction: Using what we know, what do we expect to happen next? Students are given four symbols: hunger, mockingjay, fire, and water. Beginning with hunger, students say everything they know about that symbol, whether it is based in the text or in society, while the teacher writes this information on the board. Students then must make a prediction: Will the symbol stay the same in the next book, or will it change? To answer this question, students must move to opposite sides of the room, depending on the stances they take, and then give reasons as to why they have chosen their respective side.
This activity is flexible; it can be used to predict the next novel in a series or simply the end of a story. Regardless of how you use it, though, this activity is student-based as it allows students to draw from what they already know. You may ask questions to lead them in the right direction, but in the end, the information originates from the students.
This lesson plan supports my philosophy as students become more curious about Catching Fire, more confident in understanding, and more aware of predictions and foreshadowing. Students will also have the opportunity to move around the classroom and become more active so that they can be more engaged with the material.
Co-teacher Cary Edington and I designed this activity for two 8th grade special education English courses. Since many of the students were often disengaged, we used this kinesthetic activity to get students out of their seats and moving.
This activity is based in prediction: Using what we know, what do we expect to happen next? Students are given four symbols: hunger, mockingjay, fire, and water. Beginning with hunger, students say everything they know about that symbol, whether it is based in the text or in society, while the teacher writes this information on the board. Students then must make a prediction: Will the symbol stay the same in the next book, or will it change? To answer this question, students must move to opposite sides of the room, depending on the stances they take, and then give reasons as to why they have chosen their respective side.
This activity is flexible; it can be used to predict the next novel in a series or simply the end of a story. Regardless of how you use it, though, this activity is student-based as it allows students to draw from what they already know. You may ask questions to lead them in the right direction, but in the end, the information originates from the students.
This lesson plan supports my philosophy as students become more curious about Catching Fire, more confident in understanding, and more aware of predictions and foreshadowing. Students will also have the opportunity to move around the classroom and become more active so that they can be more engaged with the material.