The Night Thoreau The Night Thoreau Spent in JailSpent in Jail

Learning CentersLearning Centers

Choice of 5Choice of 5

Center #1: Center #1: Define TranscendentalismDefine Transcendentalism

ReadRead “Brief Sketch of Transcendentalism” “Brief Sketch of Transcendentalism” and “What Is Transcendentalism?”and “What Is Transcendentalism?”

DiscussDiscuss as a group what you have come as a group what you have come to understand the term to understand the term TranscendentalismTranscendentalism to mean. to mean.

Then, using the laptop, collaboratively Then, using the laptop, collaboratively WRITEWRITE a definition essay (typed, 1-2 a definition essay (typed, 1-2 pages, MLA guidelines) that outlines your pages, MLA guidelines) that outlines your interpretation of the term.interpretation of the term.

As part of your definition, relate the term As part of your definition, relate the term to society today. Be sure to include to society today. Be sure to include concrete support for your ideas.concrete support for your ideas.

Center #2: Center #2: Diagram the StageDiagram the Stage

The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail opens opens with a description of how the stage is with a description of how the stage is to be arranged. Using any materials to be arranged. Using any materials you choose, draw a diagram or make a you choose, draw a diagram or make a model of the stage. Include as many model of the stage. Include as many details from the play as possible that details from the play as possible that will convince your audience that you will convince your audience that you understand the concept that “time and understand the concept that “time and space are awash here.” space are awash here.”

Center #3: Center #3: A Favorite Thoreau QuoteA Favorite Thoreau Quote

Look back over the text of the play; Look back over the text of the play; highlight highlight some of the sayings that we have come to relate so some of the sayings that we have come to relate so closely to the philosophy of both Transcendentalism closely to the philosophy of both Transcendentalism and to the personal philosophy of Thoreau.and to the personal philosophy of Thoreau.

ReadRead the selection of Thoreau quotes included as the selection of Thoreau quotes included as part of this center. part of this center. DiscussDiscuss as a group the as a group the meanings of his proverbs. Which ones have meanings of his proverbs. Which ones have particular meaning for you today? Which ones particular meaning for you today? Which ones might have had more meaning for someone at the might have had more meaning for someone at the time Lawrence and Lee produced their play? time Lawrence and Lee produced their play?

Each one of you in your group is to select one Each one of you in your group is to select one saying and saying and CREATECREATE an 8 ½ x 11” motivational an 8 ½ x 11” motivational poster that quotes Thoreau poster that quotes Thoreau

Center #4: Center #4: Rewrite a SceneRewrite a Scene

DiscussDiscuss in your group how you would in your group how you would rewrite the scene to bring out the ideas rewrite the scene to bring out the ideas more clearly.more clearly.

DecideDecide what specific ideas would need to what specific ideas would need to be changed, added, deleted.be changed, added, deleted.

Then, Then, REWRITEREWRITE the scene, making it more the scene, making it more modern. How would you adjust the modern. How would you adjust the language? How would you change the language? How would you change the setting (time, place, mood)? Be sure to setting (time, place, mood)? Be sure to make the scene you select appeal to an make the scene you select appeal to an audience of 21st century Transcendentalists audience of 21st century Transcendentalists

Center #5: Center #5: Summarize Act 2Summarize Act 2

ReadRead the enclosed summaries of Act I of the enclosed summaries of Act I of The The Night Thoreau Spent in JailNight Thoreau Spent in Jail. Notice how . Notice how the writers condensed the ideas without the writers condensed the ideas without leaving out any of the major points.leaving out any of the major points.

Then, in your collaborative group, Then, in your collaborative group, reviewreview Act II thoroughly.Act II thoroughly.

And finally, And finally, WRITEWRITE a succinct summary of a succinct summary of Act II. Be sure that you include all of the Act II. Be sure that you include all of the major ideas of the act. Could your major ideas of the act. Could your summary be used as a review tool for a summary be used as a review tool for a test over the play?test over the play?

Center #6: Center #6: A Day at Thoreau’s SchoolA Day at Thoreau’s School

DecideDecide what Mr. Thoreau would teach if he were employed at what Mr. Thoreau would teach if he were employed at Pope High School today.Pope High School today.

Then, Then, CREATECREATE a lesson plan for a typical day in his class. Be a lesson plan for a typical day in his class. Be sure to include what activities he would have his students sure to include what activities he would have his students carry out and what readings he would have them complete. carry out and what readings he would have them complete.

Would Mr. Thoreau assign homework? If so, what would it be? Would Mr. Thoreau assign homework? If so, what would it be?

If he would not assign homework, how about a project? What If he would not assign homework, how about a project? What type of project would be assign? How might he grade the type of project would be assign? How might he grade the final product?final product?

What would students like best about Mr. Thoreau? What would students like best about Mr. Thoreau? How would parents of Pope students react to Mr. Thoreau’s How would parents of Pope students react to Mr. Thoreau’s

methods?methods? WRITEWRITE a synopsis of your conclusions in the form of a job a synopsis of your conclusions in the form of a job

evaluation of Mr. Thoreau. Include as many of your ideas evaluation of Mr. Thoreau. Include as many of your ideas about his methods and parent/student reactions as possible.about his methods and parent/student reactions as possible.

Center #7: Center #7: Create a TimelineCreate a Timeline

For this center, you and your group will For this center, you and your group will CREATE CREATE a timeline that is two-fold:a timeline that is two-fold:

One line will One line will tracetrace the events as the the events as the playwrights present them in the play.playwrights present them in the play.

A second line will A second line will rearrangerearrange those same those same events in chronological order.events in chronological order.

The purpose is toThe purpose is to juxtapose juxtapose Lawrence and Lawrence and Lee’s expressionistic vision with events as we Lee’s expressionistic vision with events as we know them from Thoreau’s biography.know them from Thoreau’s biography.

And finally, as you work, And finally, as you work, discussdiscuss in your in your group group WHYWHY Lawrence and Lee might have Lawrence and Lee might have chosen to rearrange events in the manner chosen to rearrange events in the manner that they did.that they did.

Center #8: Center #8: Write a Theater Review Write a Theater Review

ReadRead the provided reviews of the play. Note the the provided reviews of the play. Note the differences in the reviewers’ style. What positive differences in the reviewers’ style. What positive points did each reviewer share with his reading points did each reviewer share with his reading audience? What negative points did each reviewer audience? What negative points did each reviewer choose to point out? Was the reviewer focused on the choose to point out? Was the reviewer focused on the message of the play, the dramatic elements (staging), message of the play, the dramatic elements (staging), or the performances of the actors?or the performances of the actors?

What was the overall TONE of the different reviews?What was the overall TONE of the different reviews? As a group, As a group, WRITEWRITE a POSITIVE review of the play as if a POSITIVE review of the play as if

you had seen it performed recently at the Theater in you had seen it performed recently at the Theater in the Square in Marietta. In addition to your review, the Square in Marietta. In addition to your review, identify actors and actresses who would have identify actors and actresses who would have appropriately filled the roles of the characters. appropriately filled the roles of the characters. Incorporate their names into your review. Be sure Incorporate their names into your review. Be sure your review reads as a theater review, not as a your review reads as a theater review, not as a literary analysis; maintain the TONE of a review.literary analysis; maintain the TONE of a review.