Transcendentalism  

Emerson  

Objective:  After  completing  the  reading  students  will  construct  a  mind  map  of  the  key  points  and  will  use  the  map  to  

create  a  visual  essay.  

Activity  1:  Read  The  American  Scholar   Activity  2:  Construct  a  mind  map  in  MS  Word  of  the  key  points.      

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  a  rubric.  

Activity  3:  Students  will  work  in  pairs  to  create  a  visual  essay  in  Powerpoint.      

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  a  rubric.  

Objective:  After  completing  the  readings  students  will  identify  the  theme  of  the  selections,  discuss  them  as  a  class,    and  write  a  reIlection    on  the  imporance  of  individuality,  according  to  Emerson.  

Activity  1:    Read  Nature  and  Self-­‐Reliance  and  post  thoughts  and  

comments  on  the  class  discussion  board.  

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  participation  and  

thoughtfulness  of  their  responses.  

Activity  2:Students  will  write  a  thoughtful  two  paragraph  reIlection  on  

their  blogs  that  demonstrates  understanding  of  the  key  concepts  

covered  in  the  discussion  and  readings.      

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  a  rubric.  

Thoreau  

Objective:  After  completing  the  reading  students  will  discuss  what  it  means  to  be  

a  "different  drummer,"  identify  a  modern-­‐day  "drummer,"  and  design  a  

poster  about  that  person.  

Activity  1:  Read  Conclusion  to  Walden  and  post  thoughts  and  comments  on  the  

class  discussion  board.  

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  participation  and  

thoughtfulness  of  their  responses.  

Activity  2:Using  Photoshop  students  will  design  a  poster  that  highlights  the  key  characteristics  that  qualify  the  person  as  

a  "different  drummer."  

Assessment:  Students  will  be  given  verbal  feedback  as  well  as  graded  

according  to  a  rubric.  

Objective:  After  completing  the  reading  students  will  examine  the  use  of  

Walden's  quote  in  the  story  and  write  a  response  to  the  selection.  

Activity1:  Read  Teenage  Wasteland  and  post  thoughts  and  comments  on  the  

class  discussion  board.  

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  on  participation  and  thoughtfulness  of  

responses.  

Activity  2:  Students  will  write  a  response  to  the  selection  on  their  blogs  examining  the  use  of  Thoreau's  quote  in  the  story  and    explaining  whether  they  empathize  with  more  Donny  or  Donny's  parents.  

Assessment:  Students  will  be  graded  according  to  a  writing  rubric.  

Unit  Objective:  After  completing  instructional  activities  students  will  be  able  to  explain  what  the  Transcendental  movement  was  and  evaluate  how  its  key  concepts  and  values  have  inIluenced  

modern  American  culture.