Becca Feltcher, Jacklyn Johnson, and Jared Griffin

Secondary and Elementary Education

English Language Arts
8th Grade
Topic

Vocabulary, Idioms, and Comparisons in the

novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

State Standards

Standard 1: Vocabulary - The student will

expand vocabulary through word study,
literature, and class discussion. 1. Words in
Context - Verify the meaning of a word in its
context, even when its meaning is not directly
stated, through the use of definitions,
restatement, example, comparison, or contrast.
3. Idioms and Comparisons - Analyze idioms and
comparisons, such as analogies, metaphors, and
similes, to infer the literal and figurative
meanings of phrases.

ISTE Standards

Standard 3: Research and Information FluencyStudents apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and
use information. D. Process data and report results.

Technology
Prior Knowledge,
Bellwork, Pre-Lesson
Work

Hook or Beginning of
Lesson

Class Discussion or
Whole Class
Instruction

iPads, SMARTboard, Prezi

There will be a few vocabulary
words on the board from Of Mice
5-10
and Men that the students will
minutes
write down and record their
meanings from the dictionary.
We will ask the students if they
know what an idiom or
comparisons are. After some (or
no) answers we will give the
5 minutes
definitions of the two words. We
will then ask the students if they
can give any examples now that
they know what the terms mean.
20 minutes We will begin our lesson by
pulling up our Of Mice and Men
Prezi on the SMARTboard. We will
go over the definitions of
vocabulary words from the first
chapter Of Mice and Men. We will
then go on to talk about idioms,
analogies, metaphors, and
similes. With each literary term

Independent
Practice

10-15
minutes

Closure or
Summative
Assessment

5 minutes

we will have a definition and an

example from the book. At the
end of our slides the students will
be asked to pick up an iPad and
access the application ITooch
Middle School App. On this app
they will be able to work on their
understanding of the terms we
discussed.
The students will use their
definitions from the beginning of
class to do a vocabulary
worksheet.
We will reiterate the meanings of
the literary terms we discussed
and remind the students to listen
for these terms in their daily life.
Next, they will clean up their area
and make sure their work is
turned in and the iPads are put
away before the bell.

*The time is merely a suggestion based on a 45-55 minute period of time (normally middle school and high
school).
Elementary school schedule depends on the subject. ELA/Reading is normally no less than a 90 minute
block of time.