For the next few days, we will be watching segments, if not all, of the film To Kill a Mockingbird. Today we prepared for our viewing by reinforcing the order of events in the plot, discussing the differences between the mediums of film and novel, and, finally, watching the opening of the film itself.
1. Events Scramble. Download here: Events Scramble Web Version. All students were given a set of 18 events from the novel and a timeline to place them on. Students were also required to add two extra events that were not already listed. We spent about 15 minutes putting the events in order and gluing them onto the timeline. It is key for students to understand the order of events to keep clear the differences between the novel and the film. Unfortunately, many students’ memories of stories are superseded by “the movie” and they forget all about the book. The film is not just the movie version of the book. It’s completely different!
2. Film vs. Novel. Students took notes their own and classmates’ thoughts about the difference between films and novels, what will be difficult to communicate in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, and what happens when novels are adapted into films. Students used this graphic organizer: TKAM Viewing Guide 1.
3. Watch TKaM. We watched the first 5-10 minutes of the film as students took notes on their viewing guide. I collected these sheets and we will pick up on our discussion and viewing tomorrow.
HW: None per se. Turn in any late work, do test corrections, finish reading for gosh sakes. Study your word parts for a test next week.
ALEXA GARVOILLE 