### Lesson Plan: Reading Comprehension (Classic and Contemporary Texts)
#### Year 5 - Language Arts
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#### Objective:
Students will develop their reading comprehension skills by comparing and contrasting classic and contemporary texts. They will focus on understanding the themes, characters, and settings, and be able to draw inferences from the text.
#### Materials:
1. Selected excerpts from a classic text (e.g., **"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll**)
2. Selected excerpts from a contemporary text (e.g., **"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" by J.K. Rowling**)
3. Worksheets for comprehension questions and comparative analysis.
4. Audio/visual equipment for any multimedia resources.
5. Interactive whiteboard or chart paper.
6. Sticky notes and highlighters.
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#### Introduction (10 minutes):
1. **Greetings and Attendance:** Begin by greeting the students and taking attendance.
2. **Objective Briefing:** Explain the main aim of the lesson - to improve reading comprehension skills by engaging with both classic and contemporary texts.
3. **Engagement Activity:** Ask students about their favourite books. Discuss briefly what makes these books interesting and the difference between classic and contemporary literature.
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#### Direct Instruction (15 minutes):
1. **Introducing Classic and Contemporary Texts:**
- Provide a brief overview of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (classic) and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (contemporary).
- Highlight the historical context and literary significance of each text.
2. **Reading Excerpts:**
- Read aloud selected excerpts from both texts. (Alternatively, play an audio recording if available.)
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#### Guided Practice (20 minutes):
1. **Comprehension Questions:**
- Distribute worksheets with comprehension questions related to the excerpts.
- For "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland": Focus on themes of curiosity and adventure, character analysis of Alice, and descriptions of the fantastical setting.
- For "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone": Focus on themes of bravery and friendship, character analysis of Harry, and descriptions of the magical setting.
2. **Class Discussion:**
- Discuss the answers as a class, encouraging students to provide textual evidence for their responses.
- Use the interactive whiteboard to note key points and similarities/differences between the two texts.
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#### Independent Practice (15 minutes):
1. **Comparative Analysis Activity:**
- Have students work individually or in pairs to complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the characters, settings, and themes of the two texts.
- Encourage students to use sticky notes and highlighters to mark key passages in the texts that support their analysis.
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#### Closure (10 minutes):
1. **Sharing Insights:**
- Ask volunteers to share their comparative analysis and discuss any interesting findings.
- Reflect on what they have learnt about classic and contemporary literature.
2. **Recap and Questions:**
- Summarise the key points of the lesson.
- Answer any questions the students may have.
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#### Assessment:
1. **Formative Assessment:** Observe student participation during class discussions and guided practice.
2. **Worksheet Completion:** Review the comprehension questions and Venn diagrams to assess understanding.
3. **Class Participation:** Note engagement and contributions during the sharing insights session.
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#### Differentiation:
- **For Students Needing Extra Support:** Provide simplified excerpts and guided reading questions to scaffold understanding.
- **For Advanced Students:** Encourage deeper analysis or research on the authors and historical context of the texts.
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#### Homework:
- Assign a reflective writing prompt where students choose a character from either text and write a short diary entry from their perspective.
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### Additional Notes:
- Encourage students to bring in their own favourite classic or contemporary text for a future lesson.
- Consider integrating multimedia, such as film adaptations, for a more engaging comparison.