YES Prep- White Oak

Lesson Plan

Teacher: __K. Davis _____ Grade &Subject: 9th grade ELA

Stage 1 Desired Results

Objective(s):
SWBAT explain what it means to think and communicate with clarity and precision, why it is important, and
ways/strategies to communicate with clarity and precision effectively.
Stage 2 Assessment Evidence
Performance Task(s):
Six Blind Men and the Elephant Questions
Speaking and Writing Practice
Participation in Oral Reflection
Stage 3 Learning Plan
Do First/ Pre:
Read and Discuss: As a group, read the story, Six Blind Men and the Elephant, then answer the questions that
follow.
Teacher will select 3-4 students to share out their experience. Then we will discuss what thinking and
communicating with clarity and precision means and why its important.
o Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision - Striving for accurate communication in both
written and oral form; avoiding over general or unclear statements
Pre: How do I think and communicate with clarity and precision?
Explain different strategies for students to communicate more effectively. (See worksheet for details)
During: Practice
Students will work with elbow partners to practice speaking and writing with clarity and precision.
Students have been given a specified question for each and their partner will give them feedback based on the
rubric.
Post: Reflection
o As today is about communicating, we will have an oral reflection. Students will talk about their experiences
and the importance of learning these skills. Students are prompted to use discussion sentences starters
(previously learned) in order to have a more effective conversation.
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________________________ Class Period: ___________________

This weeks Habit of Mind: _______________________

Read and Discuss

Directions: As a group, read the story, Six Blind Men and the Elephant, then answer the questions that follow.

Six Blind Men and the Elephant

Six blind men were discussing exactly what they believed an elephant to be, since each had heard how strange the creature was, yet none had ever seen one before.
So the blind men agreed to find an elephant and discover what the animal was really like.

It didnt take the blind men long to find an elephant at a nearby market. The first blind man approached the beast and felt the animals firm flat side. It seems to
me that the elephant is just like a wall, he said to his friends.

The second blind man reached out and touched one of the elephants tusks. No, this is round and smooth and sharp - the elephant is like a spear.

Intrigued, the third blind man stepped up to the elephant and touched its trunk. Well, I cant agree with either of you; I feel a squirming writhing thing - surely the
elephant is just like a snake.

The fourth blind man was of course by now quite puzzled. So he reached out, and felt the elephants leg. You are all talking complete nonsense, he said,
because clearly the elephant is just like a tree.

Utterly confused, the fifth blind man stepped forward and grabbed one of the elephants ears. You must all be mad - an elephant is exactly like a fan.

Duly, the sixth man approached, and, holding the beasts tail, disagreed again. Its nothing like any of your descriptions - the elephant is just like a rope.
And all six blind men continued to argue, based on their own particular experiences, as to what they thought an elephant was like. It was an argument that they
were never able to resolve. Each of them was concerned only with their own idea. None of them had the full picture, and none could see any of the others point of
view. Each man saw the elephant as something quite different, and while in part each blind man was right, none was wholly correct.

There is never just one way to look at something - there are always different perspectives, meanings, and perceptions, depending on who is looking.

1. Why did the six blind men fail to describe the elephant? __________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What did they fail to do as each of them was touching the elephant?
__________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How could they have succeeded if they had used the habit of Thinking and Communicating with Clarity?
_____________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you think the wise man told them about their failure to describe the elephant?
____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Think of some professions where clear thinking and communicating is important. What are the possible consequences of unclear and
imprecise communicating in such professions?

Career Scenario Consequences of unclear and imprecise

communication
Ex: Police call Dispatcher forgets to ask caller for address Caller is not rescued because police officers do not
dispatcher know where to go.
How do I think and communicate with clarity and precision?
While there are many ways to communicate, usually we are inclined to use speech or writing to interact with
others. Below you will find some strategies to think about when you are communicating.

Speaking Writing
 Mental rehearsal
Inside your head, practice what you are going to say before
you say it. Engage your own internal dialogue. The questions
you ask and the answers you provide yourself help to clarify
and direct your skills and competencies as speaker and
listener.
Slow down when you are emotional
When you get angry or exasperated, your rational brain closes
down and your emotional brain takes over. You are often
tempted to respond impulsively when you lose your cool. Take
a deep breath. Count to ten. Give yourself a chance to think
before you say something.
Listen to others
Become a spectator of others language as well as your own.
Listen to the words they choose. Seek to understand. When
you hear:
Vague nouns and pronouns such as in they or
students. Press for specificity by asking, who specifically?
Vague verbs, such as understand or improve. Ask what
these terms mean.
Comparators, such as better or larger. The issue is, better
than what or larger than what. You must ask to get clarity.
Generalizations, such as Everybody or All the time. Check
to see if it really is everybody (even your neighbor?) or all the
timeeach and every time?
Choose to be silent
Not only is it important to monitor your own thoughts and
language, it is also important to know when to be silent. Do
not worry that there are periods of silence in your
conversation. Silence allows others and yourself to think, to
reflect and to compose your thoughts and words.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Speaking
Answer the following question with your elbow
partner.
o Remember to stop and think about your
answer and then speak with clarity and
 precision.
o One word or simple sentence answers are
not appropriate.
o Fill out your partners oral critique section,
so that they can grow and become better.

What are your plans for Fall Break?

Writing
In the STAAR short answer sample box, answer
the following question.
o Remember that brainstorming may be
necessary to organize your thoughts.
o Review your writing by ensuring you have
looked over the questions in the guide.
o You only have TEN LINES! Be clear and
precise! We only need to know what is
most important.

Last week the school had an assembly on the

importance of taking the fire, hurricane and
tornado drills seriously. Why is it crucial that
we all understand the procedures of these
potential dangers?