Ever feel like one day just blends into the other? Go to work, come home, eat, TV, sleep, only to wake up to an annoying alarm(s). I've been teaching the story, "Thank You M'am" for 5 years now, conducting the same lesson for 5 periods. It was time to spice things up.
Inspired by my students' illustrations of Mrs. Jones' treatment of Roger (previous post), a trial of Mrs. Jones seemed appropriate. Is this lady, who gave money, food, and temporary shelter to her teenage robber innocent? Or does her actions of kicking this robber and dragging him to her abode make her guilty of assault and kidnapping?
Mrs. Jones' trial went as following:
1. Put on your lawyer hats and choose one side that you wish to represent.
2. A head lawyer from each side explains what happened on that fateful night.
3. Have a 10 min debate using quotes from the story as your evidence.
4. Have Mrs. Jones on the stand (a student volunteer who was subjected to the bright glare of the overhead projector light in a darkened classroom) and each side questions her.
5. Closing statements were made by volunteering laywers.
I think my favorite part of the trial was being able to slam my gavel down and yelling, "Order in the court!"
"thank you, m'am" reminds me of mr. homer's 8th grade class. i remember he made us partner up, boy-girl, and recite the dialogue in front of the class. i liked homer, he was nice. did you have him? or crazy old debie? i don't remember. either way, yayyy for fayLe ross jr high!
ReplyDeletebtw, those pictures in your previous post are hilarious. WHAT are you teaching them??? and the half nelson is a wrestling move. how do you NOT know that?? go edumacate yourself! :)