propaganda

The 2017 Solar Eclipse is coming and my county is in one of the paths were a great amount of totality will be experienced. It’s such a big deal that we’ve called off school that day for several reasons, but we are required to teach a lesson on the event before August 21, 2017. I’ve researched and glanced briefly online, but most lesson ideas that come up are either for math or science, or they are not for middle or high school level. We secondary English teachers don’t want to let the elementary teachers or science and math teachers have all the fun with the 2017 solar event of a lifetime; we “totally” want to join in with the fun, too! Therefore, I’ve brainstormed five ideas that I think are perfect to shed some “light” on the topic in your secondary English class.

1) Reading Informational Text: Find some articles that explain what happens during an eclipse. I used this article @ http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0304-1-08-eclipse/Types%20of%20Solar%20Eclipse.htm for the lesson I did with my dual enrollment seniors. I had them read the article and annotate. Then, in groups, they had to make a poster displaying that information. There were many skills that I was able to cover in this lesson including reading complex informational (scientific texts which scores points for ACT science); summarizing; classifying information; speaking & listening; art. Before conducting the lesson, review close reading strategies with my Close Reading and Annotating Teaching Pack.

2) Traditional Writing: Students don’t usually get “starry-eyed” about writing, but when the topics are as cool as a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse event, even the most reluctant writers will “shine.”

Narrative Prompt – Tell a story of what happens if the moon didn’t move out from in front of the sun, and it stayed dark forever. Teach younger students to use descriptive language when writing narratives using my interactive “Show. Don’t Tell.” sorting game.

Explanatory Prompt – Compare and contrast the different types of solar eclipses. (This would be a perfect follow up to the informational text reading activity above.)

Explanatory Prompt – Write to explain what causes a total solar eclipse to occur.

Argumentative Prompt – Your school is considering closing for Solar Eclipse Day, but some of the school board members disagree. Write to persuade them to let you have the day off. If your students need extra practice or an introduction to counterclaims, my Claims and Counterclaims Teaching Pack is sure to brighten their arguments.

3) Songs/Poetry: Students love the opportunity to listen to songs in class, and I don’t mind when we can study them as poetry. Take a look at Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” or Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of My Heart.” These two songs in particular are rich with figurative language and a particularly appropriate dark tone. Grab my poetry analysis bundle with a variety of tools including poetry worksheets, poetry analysis task cards that are perfect for stations, and vocabulary review games. You’ll be all set to guide your students through a celestial poetry analysis.

4) Reading Science Fiction: Ray Bradbury is the first author who comes to mind when science fiction is mentioned. He expertly explored and explicated his imagination of the future and even life outside of earth in relation to and as a reflection of our own humanity. I’ll be reading his “All Summer in a Day” with my juniors for our eclipse lesson. While the characters in the story actually are waiting to see the sun, and we will be waiting to do the opposite on August 21, 2017, Margot, the main character, is literally in the dark and misses the experience entirely because of her antagonistic classmates. See my easy prep, ready-to-go lesson with other paired texts and a complete sun-themed unit. I think this lesson would also work well with younger students, too. If you are looking for a science fiction text for more advanced students, check out Isaac Asimov’s “Nightfall.” Pair it with my literary analysis task cards, and your students won’t be in the dark for long.

5) Creative Writing: Many cities across the country are planning events and celebrations to host viewing parties for the Great American Solar Eclipse. Have your students use propaganda techniques and figurative language to create posters advertising a real – or imagined – viewing party in your neck of the woods. Sneak in a little review of the types of propaganda with my complete teaching pack.

Check out NASA’s website and my own county’s website for more information! #headingtothedarkside

Sign up for my monthly newsletter – “Teaching Tidbits” – that is delivered directly to your email inbox each month. Each month you’ll get announcements, tips for teaching, updates on new and revised resources, and, of course, an email-only exclusive FREEBIE!

First Name Last Name E-Mail Address

A little bit touching, a little bit thought-provoking, and a whole lot funny – Super Bowl commercials are rich with material for lessons. Since I’m an English teacher, I see these commercials as the perfect opportunity to cover persuasive appeals, rhetorical devices, literary techniques, and even media choices. I’m sure we all have our favorites for different reasons, but the ones I linked below are the ones I love because I am that nerdy English teacher! I’ve compiled them all in one place for you, so all the research is done. If you haven’t covered Common Core R.7 or SL.2 yet, the Super Bowl would be the perfect opportunity to do so AND make a real-world connection. Your cool teacher rating? 10 out of 10! This lesson always “scores big” with my classes!

1) 2013 Dodge “So God Made a Farmer” with Paul Harvey narrating

Teaching Notes: While Paul Harvey might be an out-of-date reference for most teens today, for older generations, that voice is immediately recognizable – thus, providing a sense of ethos or credibility to the Dodge Ram automatically. Also, the commercial banks largely on pathos or emotional appeal using the techniques of transfer with patriotic images sprinkled throughout and loaded words with lines such as “God made a farmer…. to work hard, to stay up late, to participate on the school board, etc.” Even though it seems that this commercial is targeting only the one audience – farmers – it illustrates beautifully the core of the American Dream: hard work. That is a claim that connects with any audience.

2) Budweiser Clydesdale “Puppy Love” 2014

Teaching Notes: It seems like Budweiser always tugs at the heartstrings with those beautiful horses every year, and they’ve done it again this time by doubling the cuteness factor. This example actually went on my Top 5 Fav list by request of my students. They loved it, and for good reason. It is dripping with pathos from the adorable puppy to the lyrics of the song. Also, the final call to action screenshot employs a pun, and if it’s punny, I’m a fan! #bestbuds – used to pull together the theme of the commercial and to make that final push of the product. Genius, right?

3) Monster.com“When I Grow Up” 2008

Teaching Notes: Wow. This is one really makes you stop and think. Not only is this one an excellent example for pathos, but the underlying dark logic used here with the faulty comparison, “you must go after your dreams or be stuck in a job you hate,” is definitely an “in your face” type approach. Also, important to note is the choice of the black and white color scheme that darkens the mood even further. I like that this commercial works perfectly for an ELA class, but it would also work well in a personal finance class for preparing for your future and goal setting or even for discussion in a human services class.

4) “Cat Herding” (2000) EDS.com

Teaching Notes: I tend to really, really enjoy dry humor and verbal irony, so I had to double check the funny factor of this one with my students. They agreed that it is a solid choice for
funny! When the two cowboys are discussing their “injuries,” I am laughing so hard I can barely breathe – maybe that’s because I can relate to the cat-herding feeling as a teacher some days! This one is definitely tickling the funny bone, which falls into the pathos category, and I also enjoy the metaphor used for the company’s goal of pulling all sorts of information together in one place.

5) “Middle Seat” – Doritos 2015

Teaching Note: This fan-made ad from 2015 is stop, drop, and roll hilarious. If you’ve ever flown, you know that fear of not knowing who is going to be sitting beside you. The struggle is definitely real! I appreciate the creativity here, and it’s a perfect example of situational irony. Of all his antics in this one, it’s hard to choose which one is the most outlandish – maybe the flossing or toe-nail clipping… shudder!

Hop over to my TPT store to get my FREE Big Game Commercial Analysis, updated 2018!