Lesson Plan

SCHOOL:TECHNICAL COLLEGE , BUZAU

TEACHER:MADALINA TABAROIU
CLASS:XII A/D
TIME:50 MIN
DATE:OCT 27th
LEVEL:ADVANCED
LESSON: HIGH DRAMA, OLIVER TWIST / PROSPECTS SUPER ADVANCED
AIM: -To allow students to practise speaking spontaneousely and fluently about something that
may provoke the use of words and phrases they have been learning recently
-To give students practice in reading both for gist and for detail
Topic: hunger
Skills involved: integrated skills (reading, speaking, writing and listening)
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson the students will have been able:
1. to identify the topic of the fragment
2. to define adventure story, fiction, fantasy,high drama, real life drama
3. to attribute adjectives to characters
4. to rewrite the fragment from their point of view
5. to focus on pronunciation issues as an integral part of the lesson
Materials: worksheets, ; textbook
Oliver Twist extract
-Write: Hunger on the board.
-Ask the students to write down the first three things
they think of in relation to this word.
-Discuss the ideas in class - which of their three things
relates to them personally? Which ones relate to other
people in the world? Is hunger only a problem in
developing countries?
-Explain that students will read an extract from Charles
Dickens book, Oliver Twist.
Have students heard of the book?
Seen the film?
What do they know about it?
How does it relate to the theme of hunger?
The story is set in England in the 1830s. At that time,
poor children whose parents could not afford to care
for them or who were orphans had to work in a
poor house.
(Note for teachers: More information on the British
Poor Laws of the time can be found at:

users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/poorlaws/
poorlaws.html )
Ask: What do students think conditions were like for
children in England in the early 1800s? Note: this was
a time when convicts were being sent to Australia.
(Students might mention issues such as - bad
food; bad beds; children beaten; had to work
instead of going to school; not allowed to play.)
WORKSHEET 1
Oliver Twist
Hand out the Worksheet containing the story extract
and questions.
1 Students skim read the extract and match the
words with their meanings, based on their context
in the story. One has been done as a
demonstration.
2 Students read again and answer the questions 1-6.
3 Go over answers in class.
4 Do question 8 as a class - Why do you think those
children are hungry? What problems do they have
that mean they dont get enough to eat? (Students
may suggest drought, lack of money, etc.)
5 Has this ever been an issue in Australia? Are there
people in Australia who ever go hungry? Why
might this be?
Students might mention issues such as - bad
food; bad beds; children beaten; had to work
instead of going to school; not allowed to play.)
Oliver Twist
The room in which the boys were fed, was a large
stone hall, with a copper [pot] at one end: out of
which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose,
and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at
meal-times... Each boy had one porringer, and no more
- except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he
had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides. The
bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them
with their spoons till they shone again; and when they
had performed this operation (which never took very
long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls),
they would sit staring at the copper, with such eager
eyes, as if they could have devoured the very bricks of
which it was composed; employing themselves,

meanwhile, in sucking their fingers most assiduously,

with the view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel
that might have been cast thereon. Boys have generally
excellent appetites.
Child as he was, [Oliver] was desperate with
hunger, and reckless with misery.
Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures
of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so
voracious and wild with hunger, that one boy, who was
tall for his age, and hadnt been used to that sort of
thing (for his father had kept a small cook-shop), hinted
darkly to his companions, that unless he had another
basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid he might some
night happen to eat the boy who slept next him, who
happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a
wild, hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. A
council was held; lots were cast who should walk up to
the master after supper that evening, and ask for more;
and it fell to Oliver Twist.
The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The
master, in his cooks uniform, stationed himself at the
copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind
him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said.
The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered to each
other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours
nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with
hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table;
and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand,
said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:
Please, sir, I want some more.
The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very
pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small
rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to
the copper. The assistants were paralysed with
wonder; the boys with fear.
What! said the master at length, in a faint voice.

Please, sir, replied Oliver, I want some more.

The master aimed a blow at Olivers head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arms; and shrieked
aloud for
the beadle. The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr.Bumble rushed into the room in
great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said, Mr. Limbkins, I beg your
pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more! There was a general start. Horror was depicted on
every countenance.
For more ! said Mr. Limbkins. Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I
understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper [which has been] allotted?
Please, sir, I want some more. He did, sir, replied Bumble.That boy will be hung, said the
gentleman in the
white waistcoat. I know that boy will be hung.
Nobody controverted the prophetic gentlemans
opinion. An animated discussion took place. Oliver
was ordered into instant confinement; and a bill was
next morning pasted on the outside of the gate,
offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who
would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish. In
other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who wanted an
apprentice to
any trade, business, or calling.

Vocabulary: Use the text to guess and match the words with their meanings.
Beadle Unquestioningly
Porringer Face
Assiduously

absolutely
especially as an indication of mood
A local church community

Countenance

Latin expression meaning by or for each

day
To restrain someone by holding down or
binding their arms
A shallow cup or bowl with a handle

Temerity
Implicitly
Voracious
Per diem
Pauper
Stupefy
Pinion

A gathering of a group or association; a

private or secret meeting
Made stupid, groggy or insensible
Relating to a prophecy; foretelling events
Having a huge appetite; excessively eager
Lively

Prophetic

Being held within a location; put in or as if in

prison

Animated
Conclave
Parish
Confinement

Reckless boldness; rashness

Constantly, unremittingly
A very poor person
A church officer

Questions:
1 Why did the boys hold a council to select someone to approach Bumble, the master?
2 How does the master react to Olivers request for more gruel?
3 Why do you think the master reacted in that way to Olivers request?
4 What was your reaction to this situation when you were reading?
5 How do you think the boys behaved after what happened to Oliver?
6 Do you think it was fair for Oliver to ask for more? Why/why not?
7 What would you do in Olivers situation? In Bumbles?
8 There are millions of children and adults who are suffering hunger and starvation in the
world today.
Why do you think they are hungry? What problems do they face that mean they dont get
enough to eat?