1. S.O.S.

2. S. O. S. From “Three Skeleton Key”
Author: George Toudouze
Lesson Plans: Bob Milo
7th Grade Language Arts
Dunedin Highland Middle School

3. Pinellas Education Foundation/AEGON – Lesson Plan Application
Secondary Language Arts
Making literature relevant
Cross-curricular activities (History & Music)
Students communicating in a variety of modes
Short story from Elements of Literature: First Course, 7th grade edition

4. State Standards and Essential Learnings
LA. A Research tasks in school and the real world
LA. E Cause & Effect Relationships
LA. A Words and Phrases in Context
LA . A Main ideas, details, and methods of organization
LA . C Listening strategies

5. --teacher’s ed. Notes (page 65)
Summary
“Three Skeleton Key” is a horror story set during the late 1800’s in a lighthouse some twenty-odd miles off the coast of South America. The nightmare begins when the three lighthouse keepers realize that a derelict sailing ship heading straight for their tiny, rocky island is filled with thousands of giant rats…”
--teacher’s ed. Notes (page 65)

6. Context -- Morse Code
“Finally, seeing the rats running in and out of the tower through the door and the windows, those on the ship (rescue ship) decided that we had perished and were about to leave when Itchoua (lighthouse keeper), regaining his senses, thought of using the light as a signal. He lit it and, using the plank placed and withdrawn before the beam to form the dots and dashes, quickly sent out our story to those on the vessel”
-- text (page 75)

7. Historical Background
Named after Samuel Morse ( )
First working model produced in 1836
First message: “What hath God wrought?” from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore
Can be transmitted using sound or light
Now used in emergencies to transmit distress signals when no other form of communication is available
-- from Omniglot: Writing Systems and Languages of the World

8. Morse Code Alphabet
A. _ B_ . . . C_ . _ . D_ . . E. F. . _ . G_ _ . H. . . . I. .
J. _ _ _K_ . _L. _ . .M_ _N_ .O_ _ _P. _ _ .Q_ _ . 
_R. _ .S. . .T_U. . _V. . . _W. _ _X_ . . _Y_ . _ _
Z_ _ . .
(copy for student use)

9. Written Activities
Write the Morse Code distress signal, S O S, using the dots and dashes
Write your first and last name using the dots and dashes
Write a short note to your partner using the dots and dashes
Write an imaginary text message using the dots and dashes

10. Listening skills activity

11. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
First performed in 1808
One of the most popular and well-known pieces of European classical music
Distinctive and recognizable 4-note motif
Repeated with multiple variations throughout

12. The Self-Discovery
An empowering moment occurs when the student is able to “connect-the-dots” by both looking at the Morse Code and listening to the Beethoven music
Review the Nazi occupation of Europe and the behind-enemy-lines mentality
Explain the use of the music as a radio signal, a broadcast frequency the Germans couldn’t jam
Ask students to approximate which Morse alphabet letter best matches the rhythm of the music
When the student finds the V, show the V for Victory hand signal

13. The “V for Victory” Campaign
The Morse Code for V (three dots and a dash) was replicated by the opening bars of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
All across Europe people hummed and whistled the tune during Nazi occupation
Along with a cigar, Prime Minister Churchill made the hand-sign his personal trademark
The BBC used the notes on its radio broadcasts to signal the call-to-arms for the D-Day invasion
The Nazis made listening to the BBC punishable by death

14. From: Classical Classics by Peter Gutmann
Dit-dit-dit-daaah
Talk about a great hook! Three quick G's and a long E-flat – the opening of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony just could be the most memorable musical phrase of all time.
During World War II its suggestion of Morse Code became the powerful symbol of “V For Victory.” GI's who didn't know Schumann from shinola knew this was Beethoven and relished the irony of a German's music galvanizing the Allied effort to defeat the horrific murder machine that country had become.
From: Classical Classics by Peter Gutmann

15. Extended Activities -- Learn more about:
the WWII D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944

16. Learn more about:
The evolution of lighthouses as they relate to transportation and navigation

17. Learn more about:
The telegraph and its predecessor, the Pony Express

18. Learn more about:
Ludwig van Beethoven and his place in musical history

19. The End