The text includes a synopsis, a general outline of the literary piece, the literary approach, some routines and a summary of a few lesson plans designed for the study of the book in a 9th grade Realschule (Germany).
Table of Contents
1. Synopsis
2. General outline
3. Literary approach
4. Routines
5. Lesson plans
6. Sources
Objectives and Topics
This teaching project outlines a comprehensive instructional framework for using Lois Lowry's novel "The Giver" within an English as a Foreign Language classroom, specifically targeting 9th-grade students in a Realschule setting. The primary goal is to foster students' engagement with literature through a structured reading process, encouraging critical thinking about societal structures, emotional depth, and moral responsibility while simultaneously improving their language proficiency.
- Analysis of utopian vs. dystopian societal themes.
- Integration of literary and language-based learning approaches.
- Development of reading routines and interpretative skills.
- Methodological application of student-centered classroom discussions.
- Exploration of individual responsibility and emotional maturity through fiction.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Synopsis
„The Giver“ by Lois Lowry was published in 1993, immediately winning the John Newbery Medal award for excellence in children’s literature.
The story takes place in an utopian world. The main character, a twelve-year old boy named Jonas, lives together with his sister Lilly and his parents. However, his parents are not his biological parents as they were chosen by the community to take care of Jonas. Together with his friends Asher and Fiona, Jonas waits for the ceremony of twelve in which every child of that age gets a “job” for his future life. The characters of the novel have no own voice or possibility to design their future - the community predefines their lives.
In the ceremony, Jonas is chosen to be the new “Receiver of Memory”.
Jonas doesn’t know what lies ahead of him and soon, he meets an old wise man, the so-called “Giver of Memory”. The Giver trains Jonas in a certain way: He is the only person in the community who can experience real feelings. By transmitting his knowledge mentally to Jonas, the Giver loses the feelings himself. Jonas does not only experience feelings but also specific things, which aren’t present in this world: His first experience is to be sitting on a moving sledge. He likes this memory, not knowing that there are also bad, painful memories to come. His first painful memory is a sunburn. There are also no colours in this novel’s world of sameness. Not surprisingly, it’s Jonas, who gets the memory of colours from the Giver.
Summary of Chapters
1. Synopsis: Provides a narrative overview of the novel "The Giver", detailing Jonas's transition from a member of an emotionless society to the Receiver of Memory.
2. General outline: Explains the pedagogical reasoning for selecting the novel for 9th-grade students, focusing on language accessibility and the thematic relevance of the story.
3. Literary approach: Describes the methodology employed, specifically a combination of personal growth and language-based approaches to maximize student engagement.
4. Routines: Details the practical reading strategies and monitoring tools, such as reading diaries, used to maintain student involvement and track comprehension.
5. Lesson plans: Outlines the structured classroom activities, starting from the introduction of the text to the final discussions on the novel's ambiguous ending.
6. Sources: Lists the academic curriculum guidelines and digital resources utilized for the creation of the project.
Keywords
The Giver, Lois Lowry, English Foreign Language, Realschule, Utopian, Dystopian, Literature, Teaching project, Jonas, Receiver of Memory, Sameness, Lesson plans, Reading diary, Literary approach, Pedagogical methods
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this teaching project?
The project provides a structured plan to teach Lois Lowry's "The Giver" in a 9th-grade English classroom, balancing literary analysis with language development.
Which grade level is targeted by this material?
The teaching project is specifically designed for 9th-grade students attending a Realschule.
What is the central research or pedagogical goal?
The goal is to challenge students appropriately while fostering personal engagement with the text, using the novel's themes of societal sameness versus individual emotional depth.
What methodology is implemented in the lessons?
The authors use a mixture of a "personal approach" to encourage engagement and a "language-based approach" to improve analytical and linguistic skills.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the synopsis, general outlines for classroom implementation, literary approaches, routine reading tasks, and detailed lesson plans.
Which keywords define this document?
Key terms include "The Giver," "Lois Lowry," "Realschule," "Foreign Language Classroom," and "Utopian/Dystopian society."
How does the project handle the challenge of vocabulary?
The project suggests using monolingual or bilingual dictionaries and emphasizes student responsibility in summarizing chapters to resolve vocabulary difficulties effectively.
How is the "release" theme integrated into the lessons?
The concept of "release" is used as a focal point in the lesson plans, where students discover the true, dark meaning of the term alongside the protagonist, Jonas.
Why is the novel considered appropriate for this specific age group?
The authors argue that the novel’s plot is comprehensible and that its themes—such as the need for emotional depth and the critique of superficial societies—resonate strongly with 9th-grade students.
- Citation du texte
- Johannes Vees (Auteur), Michael Bruder (Auteur), Andreas Jaksch (Auteur), 2008, Teaching Project: Lois Lowry (1993) "The Giver", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/139860
