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Breaking Free From Conformity: A study in modern day Transcendentalism Lesson PlanBreaking Free From Conformity: A study in modern day Transcendentalism Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan

Breaking Free From Conformity: A study in modern day Transcendentalism

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Students begin with a journal entry on the topic "Why does Ralph Waldo Emerson advocate self-reliance?" They listen to Gavin Degraw's "I Want to Be." Students write their interpretation of the song. Students write an essay about Liars and Imposters.

15 Views 48 Downloads
Concepts

henry david thoreau, ralph waldo emerson

Additional Tags

emerson, thoreau, english language arts
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Resource Details

Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
English Language Arts
3 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
2 days
Instructional Strategy
Research

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Worksheet

“Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Curated OER
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Readers not only identify aphorisms in Emerson's "Self Reliance," but also find evidence of transcendental elements contained in the essay. They also demonstrate consistency...
10th - 12th English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Breaking the Code: Actions and Songs of Protest

PBS
Ezell Blair, Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil changed history. Their sit-in at the lunch counter of the Woolworths in Greensboro, North Carolina on February 1, 1960 became a model for the nonviolent protests that...
8th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The School of Life
Pantheist, romanticist, transciendentalist. Introduce young philosophers to the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson with a video that details his life, his ideas, and his essays.
11 mins 11th - Higher Ed English Language Arts
Interactive

Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism

Curated OER
Tackle Transcendentalist literature with these questions. This resource provides 14 essay questions that cover different works by Thoreau and Emerson. Class members may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the...
10th - Higher Ed English Language Arts
Lesson Plan

Sense, Sensibility and Sentences: Examining and Writing Memorable Lines

Curated OER
Involve your readers in finding works of literary genius. Have each individual write down compelling sentences that they read or hear, whether in a newspaper, advertisement, book, movie, song, or any other place! Once each person has a...
7th - 12th English Language Arts
Primary

Poets.org: "Song of Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Academy of American Poets
Full text of the poem "Song of Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882).
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Unit Plan

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Annenberg Foundation
This features a brief biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an optimistic Transcendentalist author who's personal life was filled with tragedy. See "Ralph Waldo Emerson Activities" for related materials.
9th - 10th English Language Arts
eBook

American Verse Project: Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson

University of Michigan
Part of the Humanities Initiative American Verse Collection, this resource offers links to more than fifty poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Article

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Lit2 Go: Ralph Waldo Emerson: History

University of South Florida
The complete text of Emerson's essay, "History." The text can be read online or downloaded in MP3 or PDF format, or viewed as a webpage. In addition, the essay has downloadable support material which focuses on various reading and math...
9th - 10th English Language Arts
Interactive

Emerson's Essays Quiz

Curated OER
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 12 multiple choice questions about Emerson's Essays. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
9th - Higher Ed English Language Arts
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