To Kill a Mockingbird

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Description: Students will respond to a literature selection by creating the characters, costumes, menus, thrill rides, and entertainments scripts for a Literature Land Theme Park.

OBJECTIVE
The students will:

1. Work individually or in cooperative learning groups.
2. Research settings, textiles, food, and entertainment related to a literature selection and its time period.
3. Design costumes, menus, and theme park rides from the literature’s time period.
4. Write short entertainment scripts to be produced in the theme park.
5. Present their projects to the class.

MATERIALS

1. Literature Land Theme Park Rubric (PDF)
2. literature selection Art supplies : butcher paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, paint, construction paper, glue, writing paper, etc.
3. A variety of books and Web sites to be used as research resources for the time period.
4. Computers with Internet access
5. Maps of local theme parks (optional)

DIRECTIONS
This lesson is intended to be taught as a response to any literature selection previously studied in class that offers a comprehensive theme upon which students can expand into the design of a theme park.

PART I

Step 1: Students name their favorite theme park and reason(s) for choosing it. The teacher will allow time for the students to discuss their responses to the following questions:

* What are your favorite rides?
* What is the significance of the name(s) of the ride?
* What type of food is served?
* Are any themes represented in the park?
* Is the park divided into different sections? If so, do these sections have a name?
* What are the employees that control the rides wearing ?
* What type of plays, shows, or other entertainment is offered at the theme park?

Step 2: Students will create their own section of a class theme park called “Literature Land” while working individually or in small groups. Students will recall the story elements of the literature previously read; its setting, time period, plot, characters, problem, resolution, etc.

NOTE:Emphasize the aspects of the selection that will help brainstorm ideas for the theme park in terms of designing the costumes, rides, menu, and entertainment scripts.

Step 3: Review the Literature Land Theme Park Rubric.

Step 4: Create a section of the theme park. What kinds of dress or costumes come to mind?

Step 5: Only one thrill ride needs to be designed for the project.

Step 6: Students will find information about the foods that were eaten during this time period.

Step 7: Talk about the kinds of entertainment mentioned in the selection, such as the Masquerade Ball or the sport of fencing. Students will create a form of entertainment that is based on these types of recreation. Brainstorm what a script might entail that could be performed for the class.

Step 8: students will identify a theme park section name, time period, and ideas for the costumes, rides, menus, and entertainment scripts.

PART II

Step 9:Students will have a minimum of 4 days to research their theme park ideas and prepare for their class presentation.

Step 10: A top notch presentation would include wearing the costume designs, sharing a model of the thrill ride, sharing a sampler of the menu, incorporating the entertainment script, and providing a summary of their section of Literature Land.

Step 11: Students will identify their strengths and weaknesses.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Research time period of literature selection
2. Design costumes.
3. Design a theme park ride.
4. Create a menu.
5. Write a script.
6. Present project