After weeks of study, students need a fun refresher on the novel or play they have just read. Moodle can add excitement to the review of all types of literature.

LESSON DESCRIPTION

After reading a novel or play and discussing the literary elements used in the literature, each student is assigned a particular character from a chapter or act of the text. Using Moodle, the class participates in a chat session during which students provide clues to their character’s identity or story section through their comments and interaction with others in the chat room. Each student keeps a log of what they believe to be each classmate’s identity and assigned text section. They will later use this log to help them determine which group they will work with on a wiki.

Next, each student will compose and upload a poem that communicates his or her character’s point of view about the events that take place. Students will then read their classmates’ poems and make reflective comments on each poem’s content and poetic devices. With the permission of students and their parents, the teacher can compile these poems into a book to be published on Lulu.com.

Last, students assigned the same chapter, section or act will work together to create a Moodle wiki that reviews the major events and literary elements of the section. Each group will use Hot Potatoes software to create a quiz related to their section for classmates to complete after viewing the wiki.

SUBJECT AREA

This lesson plan was created for a high school language arts class but could be adapted for middle school students. Students work with plot, characterization, point of view, figurative language and poetic devices.

CURRICULUM STANDARDS

This lesson addresses the following Sunshine State Standards for Reading and Language Arts:

• The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend grade-level text.
• The student identifies, analyzes and applies knowledge of the elements of a variety of fiction and literary texts to develop a thoughtful response to a literary selection.
• The student identifies, analyzes and applies knowledge of the elements of a variety of nonfiction, informational and expository texts to demonstrate an understanding of the information presented.
• The student develops the essential technology skills for using and understanding conventional and current tools, materials and processes.

RESOURCES

• Moodle course management system tutorials: www.moodle.org
• Lulu self-publishing website: www.lulu.com
• Hot Potatoes quiz-making software: hotpot.uvic.ca
• Links to copyright-friendly images for wiki: eduscapes.com/tap/topic98.htm

GRADING RUBRIC

Students will receive points for:

• correctly guessing classmates’ identities and assigned sections during the classroom chat;
• use of poetic devices in their writing and substantive comments on classmates’ poems;
• identifying literary elements, outlining major events and incorporating appropriate images in the wiki;
• composing a quiz with meaningful questions.

Mignon Conway Austin teaches language arts at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Fla.