Writing-Oral Lesson on ALWTW

This activity is based off of already being done with reading the book. With that said, this lesson will be focused on transitioning from a writing activity to an oral presentation type of activity. From the book, the students will make reflections back to sections that really tried and tested the characters mental health.

This lesson would be based off of the ‘response writing strategy’. So, like I said, this lesson will take place after the students have completed the reading of A Long Walk to Water. The students writing will be focused on the mental health of the characters from the book. They will reflect back throughout the book and talk about the different trials and challenges that the characters had and how these effected their mental health. Throughout their writing and reflections, the also will make connections to their own lives and the lives of their loved ones with mental health and different information we have learned about regarding mental health through out the year. This writing will connect the book, life experiences, and previous lessons all together into one. After the students are finished with their writings, we will move onto the oral portion of our lesson. Students will share their writings with the class. By doing this, we will open up a conversation about mental health from each students’ thoughts, opinions, and ideas from their writings. From these conversations, I hope to teach my students the importance of mental health and to erase the negative stigma behind opening up about mental health issues and problems. After all students have finished sharing and the conversations have reached an end, I will step in and give a brief recap and overview on the conversations we have had and to highlight different important aspects. I will use the SMART Board to assist me in my teachings and recap on mental health. I will do this at the end, this way I am letting the students have their time and speak their minds without my influence taking place. I will just moderate and help the conversation keep flow.

Overall, I believe this lesson and conversations we will have will contribute to a great overall learning of important knowledge for my students. It will allow my students to open up and discuss their feelings and give their ideas on mental health in a controlled, nonjudgmental environment. I hope this is something that will greatly impact all my students in a positive way.

The following health enhancement standards will be met by this lesson:

2. Analyze the interrelationships of physical, mental, emotional, family, and social health on personal health, including those of American Indian cultures and practices

14. Explain how the perception of societal norms influence healthy and unhealthy behaviors, including those of American Indian cultures and practices