Unit Plan Template s2

Intel® Teach Program

Essentials Course

Unit Plan – English and AP Language

B. Vogt

Rationale

Arthur Miller's The Crucible fits in with the theme of "Rights and Responsibilities." While Nothing but the Truth touches on freedom of expression as a right that must be protected, The Crucible challenges the students to think of protecting and respecting the rights of others as a part of citizenship and to ensure social justice for others as well. In the play, John Proctor and the Reverend Hale find that personal choices and responsibility are strongly interconnected. The play is a classic that appeals to students of all ability levels. Many students make personal connections with the girls who call out "Witch!" These girls have no status in the village, but when they are sought out as members of the court they attain the status of modern day celebrities. Many students make the connection between Abigail from The Crucible and Philip from Nothing but the Truth. Both are trying to avoid trouble and lie to do it. In the lie comes tragedy. They are not able to control the lie, and its consequences for innocent people. Others take on the lie for their own personal gain.

Unit Author
First and Last Name / Arthur Miller
School District / Dare County
School Name / Manteo High School
School City, State / Manteo, North Carolina
Unit Overview
Unit Title
The Crucible – Twentieth Century Drama: America on Stage (p.1257) / Senior Project Connection
Unit Summary
17th century Puritan New England: the witchcraft scare; Colonial period language; Salem Witch Trials; Overall rating: Avg.
The word crucible comes from the Latin word for “cross.” A crucible is any pot made of material strong enough to withstand the intense heat necessary to melt down metals. Crucible also means, “a severe trial or test.” In 1643, the four colonies of New England-Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island formed a confederation called the United Colonies of New England. Each was the stronghold of a different religious body. The Plymouth Puritans were separatists who wanted a break from the Church of England. The Massachusetts Puritans were not separatist, but were still extremely conservative. Connecticut was governed by a Presbyterian system, while Rhode Island was home to Quakers, Anabaptists, and other free thinkers.
In 1660, Puritan Oliver Cromwell’s reign over England came to an end with the restoration of the monarchy and the coronation of the Roman Catholic Charles II. Charles revoked the charters that guaranteed the American colonies self-government. This alarmed the Puritans on both economic and religious grounds; they wanted no interference with profitable trade or with their systems of religion. This halt in colonial self-government would eventually lead to the American Revolution of the late 1700s. This resentment of authority was mirrored in the gradual changes to the Puritan system that finally erupted n the witchcraft trials.
Between 1662 and 1676, conflicts between the Indians and the Europeans escalated. In 1676, the all-out war known as King Phillp’s War (“King Philip” was a Wampanoag chief whose Indian name was Metacomet) broke out between them. Many on both sides were killed.
The Salem withcraft trials grew out of this climate of unrest and fear of enemies attacking from all sides—the English king eroding colonial rights, Native Americans trying to repossess their land, and liberal factions with the church seeking to ease standards for membership.
1. PowerPoint Presentation - The Crucible - Background
"Why I Wrote the Crucible?"
Themes from the Crucible;
Brooks Atkinson’s Crucible Critical Review (p. 1363)
Howard Kissel’s Neeson & Company Cast a Powerful Spell Critical Review (p. 1364)
Writing Workshop: Workplace Writing: Job Portfolio and Resume (1368)
Subject Area
LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS
"Recognize and identify how authors clarify meanings of words through context and use definition, restatement, example, comparison, contrast and cause and effect to advance word study."
"Recognize characteristics of subgenres including satire, parody and allegory and explain how choice of genre affects the expression of a theme or topic."
Analyze the characteristics of various literary periods and how the issues influenced the writers of those periods
Writing Lab - work on Crucible Essay: Writing Lab - work on Crucible Essay; Look for information at Newser or Newsweek.com.
Grade Level
English and AP Language
Approximate Time Needed
2 Week; 10 – 60 minute class periods
Unit Foundation
Targeted Content Standards and Benchmarks
Goal 4: Critical Thinking
CT.4.01.1 Examine the functions and the effects of narrative strategies.
CT.4.01.5 Demonstrate how literary works reflect the culture that shaped them.
Goal 5: Literature
LT.5.01.1 Analyze characteristics of literary genres in the US and how the selection of genre shapes meaning.
LT.5.02.2 Compare American texts to show similarities or differences.
LT.5.03.6 Summarizing key events and points from US literature.
Goal 6: Grammar and Usage
GU.6.01.2 Use vocabulary strategies to determine meaning.
GU.6.02.6 Edit for correct spelling and mechanics.
Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Exploring Expository Writing/Historical Context: Puritan Religion and Beliefs: Exploring Expository Writing Sample
Analyze indirect and direct characterization and the conflict in the Crucible: Characterization Sample
Understand irony and dramatic irony in the Crucible: Irony Sample
Learn root words from the Crucible: Word Roots Sample
The Crucible
Nelson's Page-O-Madness!!
Curriculum-Framing Questions
Essential Question / How does literature define the individual in society, family, and allegorically?
Unit Questions / 1. 1. Compare and contrast the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism.
2. Understand the living conditions in Massachusetts in the 1700s.
3. Examine the dynamics of Puritanism in 1692.
4. Gather historical perspectives of American Colonial period. The Crucible
Content Questions / American Colonial Period - The Crucible - McCarthyism - Puritanism - Salem Witch Trials
Assessment Plan
Assessment Timeline
Before project work begins / Students work on projects and complete tasks / After project work is completed
Author biography
Historical background information
Vocabulary activities
Reading comprehension activities
Teacher's vocabulary list with definitions / Study-guide questions
Graphic organizers / Literary analysis
Critical thinking activities
Essay-writing activities
Summary of the play
Quizzes
Complete answer keys / and much, much more!
Senior Project
Connection to
Essential question / Unit tests
Alternative assessment / Extension activities
Assessment Summary
The Crucible Project
Unit Details
Prerequisite Skills
The Historical Background of The Crucible (p.1252) PHL
The Writing of The Crucible
Shadows of McCathyism and Hollywood Glamour
The Salem Withches
Instructional Procedures
Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction
Special Needs Students / Have students complete the Preview and Build Skills pages for Act I of The Crucible in the Reader’s Notebook: Adapted Version.
Support for Less Proficient Readers: Have students complete the Preview and Build Skills page for Act I of The Crucible in the Reader’s Notebook
Nonnative Speakers / Support for English Learners: Have students complete the Preview and Build Skills pages for Act I of The Crucible in the Reader’s Notebook: English Learner’s Version
Gifted/Talented Students / Have students research childhood in early America. In the commentary above, Miller say that children were expected to “walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut.: Have students find out what Puritan children wore, how they were educated, what games they played, at what age they began working, and what the differences were between a boy’s upbringing and a girl’s.
Materials and Resources Required For Unit

Technology – Hardware (Click boxes of all equipment needed)

Intel® Teach Program

Essentials Course

Camera
Computer(s)
Digital Camera
DVD Player
Internet Connection / Laser Disk
Printer
Projection System
Scanner
Television / VCR
Video Camera
Video Conferencing Equip.
Other
Technology – Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)
Database/Spreadsheet
Desktop Publishing
E-mail Software
Encyclopedia on CD-ROM / Image Processing
Internet Web Browser
Multimedia / Web Page Development
Word Processing
Other

Intel® Teach Program

Essentials Course

Printed Materials /
Supplies / Prentice Hall Literature Text and ancillaries
Dare County Senior Project
Resume Writer
Internet /
Other Resources / 1. Presentation/PowerPoint (The Crucible)
2. Presentation/PowerPoint (The Crucible)
3. Background of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"
The Crucible: Studying Witch Hunts in History. Students use a WebQuest to investigate the background of ... To view a sample PowerPoint presentation, click here ...
homepage.mac.com/corourke/Crucible/Crucible.html - Cached
4.

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