Duration:
One 40-minute class period. [Students may choose to use this information to create a final project mini-book.]
Objectives:
Students will be able to make decisions about what they value in a kooky, real-person hero, conceive a personality for that figure, practice and develop dictionary skills, take responsibility for partner success.
Materials:
Quantity of French/English dictionaries
Do Now! / Faites Maintenant!:
Brainstorm a fantasy everyday hero, like Miss C. What qualities would your Miss C have? Where would she/he come from? What place would she/he occupy in society? What would she/he wear? Smell like? Eat? Enjoy? Detest? Write answers in
concise English.
Initiation:
Select students to share one quality they have chosen, and why.
Activities:
In pairs, have students swap lists. Each student must locate the best French word for his/her partner's word choices. Stress that students should treat the partner's list as his/her own, and pursue it with vigor and care. Keep in mind, most middle school students do not understand the concepts behind looking up phrases and words with multiple meanings. Teacher must be circulating to guide and encourage, but NOT to "give the answer!" Lead the student as blatantly as you like, but do not deliver the information. Quick workers can help guide other students, brainstorm more words to look up, or attempt sentences.
Closure:
Have each person quickly share a partner's word/phrase that was striking (unusual, very cool, tough to look up, etc.) Collect work, check for misinformation.
