Terra Community and Ethics of the Future ‘Stories with similar words’ (the use of The Giver in the English language syllabus) Marijana Mikulandra,prof. OŠ Tina Ujevića, Šibenik February, 2017

Terra Community and Ethics of the Future KA2 Strategic Partnership (schools only) 2016-2018 OBJECTIVES Developing the spirit of belonging to global community Setting the ethical frame of the future community of the Living Increasing the individual and collective responsibiliy for the future community of the Living Developing research skills PARTNERS LICEUL CU PROGRAM SPORTIV, BISTRITA, ROMANIA ZESPOL SZKOL nr 1 W HUMNISKACH, POLAND JVIZ I. OS ROGAŠKA SLATINA, SLOVENIA MOBILITIES 2 transnational meetings 4 short-term learning sessions (21 pupils each school)

Project results available at: https://www.facebook.com/Terracommunity/ http://www.terracommunity.eu/ http://os-tujevica-si.skole.hr/

Why is The Giver good for implementing in regular syllabus Easy to read (7th-8th grade) Children’s novel Interesting for students Talks about universal questions Offers A LOT OF differential follow-up activities

Literary genre: DYSTOPIA A utopia is an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its citizens. (Wikipedia) The opposite of utopia is dystopia. A dystopia is a community or society that is undesirable or frightening. Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. (Wikipedia)

Short summary The main character, Jonas, a 12-year-old boy, lives in an apparently utopian society: citizens are safe, there is no poverty or criminal, everybody has a job and is well taken care of. Soon it becomes clear to a reader that this community is, under its surface, totally opposite of utopian. We follow Jonas through his twelfth year when the citizens, by rule, are assigned with their definite roles. Jonas starts questioning the values his community is based on…

Follow-up possibilities *the pupils can read the whole novel (at home) or one/a couple of chapters (at home/school) Developing a project around the book (1 month-a school year) Developing writing skills (essays, compositions) Extra-curricular activities Developing citizenship skills (strong) Connecting with 8th grade ESL regular syllabus (strong) Developing critical thinking (discussions, argumentation) Developing literacy skills and literary critical thinking

Main topics Choice Freedom vs security Sameness vs diversity Individuality Honesty Family

Developing a project: Making a class Files of the Giving Memories Book A group project: create a utopian society (What’s its name/flag/anthem/coat of arms? Where is it located: somewhere on the Earth/other planet? What’s the environment like? What’s the climate like? Is it in the future/past/modern times? What are its rules? Who rules? Is technology important? Are there advanced technologies? What is the main economy/industry? What social strata are there? What is the educational system like? What do children learn? What subjects? How do they choose careers? What careers? What are the families like? How are the Elders treated? What punishments are there if any? What social activities are there?...)

Developing writing skills Write your own memory you would pass to the Receiver What is missing in Jonas’ world? Why aren’t there mirrors? Write another chapter Write the optional ending Write your own story/chapter from imaginary dystopian world Is truly utopian society possible?

Developing citizenship skills Discussion about the issue of choice (“We have to protect people from wrong choices”; classify your everyday choices) Freedom vs Security (more freedom-less security, less freedom-more security) Contrast families in different cultures Genetic engineering: ethical issues Contrast social rules in different cultures (modal verbs) Contrast governments/social systems in different countries

Connecting with the 8th grade syllabus Biographies Books: summaries Compare Jonas’ society with that of Native Americans/Amish Watch a film and compare it with the book; make a film review Compare with Hunger Games Choosing careers (What Job ssignment would the Elders choose for you? Have a Class Ceremony of Twelves)

Developing literacy skills and literary critical thinking Foreshadowing (Where does the “west bridge” lead to? Who sent the aeroplanes? What will community do when they discover what Jonas has done? What happens after the end?) Literary genre: utopia, dystopia (Orwell, Huxley, More) Characters description (What are they like?) Symbolism (sled, apple, the river, Jonas’ pale eyes, Gabriel’s name) Euphemism (release) Language accuracy/choice of words (a family-a family unit, a home-dwelling, a stuffed animal-a comfort subject, distraught-distracted)

Bibliography https://www.walden.com/blog/the-giver-7-creative-classroom-activities/ https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/giver-lesson-plan/ https://www.varsitytutors.com/englishteacher/the-giver-lesson-plans http://www.brighthubeducation.com/middle-school-english-lessons/60638-the-giver-activities/ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/GIVER-ACTIVITIES-930420 http://www.prestoplans.com/giver-creative-class-activities/ http://thegiverlessonplans.com/ https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZkgxR-crEIgYk0z9JubYOmmeDaP0mSNwR-WizPXUxtE/edit#slide=id.p https://prezi.com/ubia9iq5muqg/the-giver-introductory-lesson/

Benjamin Franklin

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