Kevin S. Miller
OBJECTIVE: To teach students how to brainstorm and order their writing.
To introduce students to family structure and the advantages of having a rational and responsible male figure in the family makeup.
MATERIALS: Walt Disney’s The Lion King video tape, television set, V.C.R., Blackboard and chalk.
PROCEDURE:
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1. Background information on video.
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2. Show video.
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3. Open classroom discussion.
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A. Why do you think they call Simba’s home The Pride Land? Why was Pride Rock a major place for all the animals?
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B. What kind of father was Mufasa?
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C. What was the role of Simba’s mother and the other lioness?
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D. How would you describe Uncle Scar?
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E. What kind of relationship did the lions and hyenas have? Why did Uncle Scar make a pack with the hyenas?
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F. What do you think about Simba giving up his father’s philosophy of responsibility and taking the philosophy of Pumbaa and Timon which was “Hakuna Matata”?
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G. What was the turning point in Simba’s life?
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H. What was the role of Rafiki?
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I. What does the “Circle of Life” mean?
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J. What was wrong with the way Uncle Scar was ruling the Pride Land?
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K. Mufasa means “trustworthy one”. How did he show he deserved this name?
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L. Simba means “symbol”. How was Symba a symbal to us all?
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4. List possible writing topics generated from this discussion on the blackboard.
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5. Students can choose one or pick one of their own and place it in the center of their paper and circle it.
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6. Demonstrate how to brainstorm on blackboard while students do it at their seats.
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7. Have students discuss their brainstorming activity with another student.
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8. Then have students start to organize their work(order) in the following fashion. Have them read their brainstorms through and decide which idea would be good to start with and number that idea 1. Ask them to decide which idea would make a good ending? Then have them circle it and label it ending. Then have them circle their other main ideas in the order they wish to use them.
NOTE: Students will need lots of practice with the planning and ordering process. You want it to become second nature for them to note down ideas and make a quick plan before they start any writing assignment.
CLOSURE: Students will do a “web” of a topic at home.
Students will write one sentence about a man, woman, and friend they know who fits one of the characters in The Lion King.