Leslie Braff

Demo Lesson (20 Minutes)

Objective: Students will be able to support their opinions by citing textual evidence through
writing. Students will be able to compare their own nickname and feelings with that of Josh’s.
Students will be able to relate and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through
Josh’s story by reflecting on their own story.

Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.D: Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate
understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and paraphrasing.

Materials:
Excerpt from The Crossover, Chromebook/Other desktop or laptop, Google Classroom
Horace Silver Lesson Plan, Excerpt,
“Filthy McNasty” and Powerpoint
https://bit.ly/2mTYghh https://bit.ly/2mVnpYX

Activity Script
Introduce The Crossover to the students “Raise your hand if you have a nickname?”
and have students share their nicknames
and what they notice about the way the “Awesome me too, but before I share mine, turn
story is written. to a neighbor and tell them your nickname.”

Have students share out their nicknames.

“We are going to read an excerpt or blurb from a

book titled, “The Crossover.” Once we are done,
we will all be able to reflect on the multiple
perspectives and cite the text using supporting
evidence. Before we get started take 30 seconds
to look over the pages. Your copy are pages
copied directly from the book. What do you
notice about the layout?

Read excerpt to whole group. Have “Let’s listen while I read. Follow along. Feel free
students follow along. to circle, highlight, underline anything you may
have a question on or if there is a word you are
not familiar with. We will go back to that later ”

*Read aloud and walk around the room

Stop after a couple pages and check.

“Do you think Josh likes his nickname? Which

sentences proves that he does or doesn’t like his
nickname?”

*Continue reading story. Now that we have read

the story, do you notice anything you might not
have noticed before?
Reread strategy - Reread to look for
textual evidence supporting Josh’s
nickname
Deeper thinking and assessment
“We just read a little about Josh. We’re going to
do 3 things. Let’s take 4-5 minutes: 1. Take turns
reading to eachother pages 6-9 and highlight or
circle or underline how Josh got his nickname.
(Model it “On pg 6 I would underline “....”
because) If you finish that before time is up,
share how you got your nickname.”
*While students work in partners. Play Horace
Silver “Filthy McNasty” so students hear the
song that was referenced in text about Filthy’s
nickname.
Go over the textual evidence the students
highlighted. Share whole group.
Introduce the higher level questions (Show on
powerpoint or have each printed big)
1. How did you get your nickname? How do
you relate to Josh? Why or why not?
(Relate)
2. Explain how Josh’s feelings about his
nickname changed over time
(Comprehension)
3. Why do you think the author structured
his writing in this way (Analyze)
4. Create your own basketball drawing or
poem to express how you got your
nickname. Make sure to include your
nickname in the drawing or poem.
*If there are any questions students may have,
please use post it and leave it on door on way out.
We will review unanswered questions together
the next lesson.
*If time allows with early finishers, have students
come up with a new nickname. Why did you
choose that nickname.
Name: How did you get your nickname and
why? How do you relate to Josh?
Explain how Josh’s
What other feelings about his
questions do you nickname changed
The Crossover
have? over time ?
Josh ‘filthy’
Why do you think the author
structured his writing in this way?
  
 

Changes over time 

Explain how Josh’s feelings 
about his nickname 
changed.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Details & Patterns 

 

Why do you think the 

author structured his 
writing in this way?  
 
  

Multiple Perspectives 
How did you get your nickname 
and why? How do you relate to 
Josh?  
 
 
  
 

Unanswered questions 
What else do you want to 
know?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Details & Patterns 

Create your own basketball poem  
The Crossover
Kwame Alexander
Josh AKA “Filthy” PARTNER SHARE
Read to your partner
pgs 6-9
● How did Josh get his
nickname?
What’s your nickname
and how did you get
it? *If you don’t
have a nickname what
would it be and why?