During our last unit, students thought deeply about the different levels and dimensions of setting. Through an exploration of short stories — “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, and “We’re the Only Colored People Here” by Gwendolyn Brooks” — students engaged in a variety of activities to help setting come to life as they read. For example, during the reading of “The Most Dangerous Game,” students used close-reading strategies to help them determine the physical layout of Ship-Trapped Island in order to help them visualize the plot events. While some students designed detailed maps, other students created three-dimensional models.
Throughout the unit, students also practiced crafting the introductions to their own original short stories by drawing on our study of setting and figurative language.
By Tiffany Delhagen
7th Grade ELA
