Lesson Plan: Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes

 

Lesson Plan: Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes

Grade Level: 7th-12th Grade

Duration: 1-2 Class Periods (45-60 minutes each)

Objectives:

• Students will analyze the characters and their motivations.
• Students will explore the themes of empathy, kindness, and personal responsibility.
• Students will identify the story's moral and discuss its relevance to their own lives.

Materials:

• Copies of Thank You, M'am by Langston Hughes (text or online)
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard and markers/chalk
• Graphic organizers (Character Analysis, Theme Exploration)
• Projector or smartboard (optional for video or visual aids)

Introduction (10-15 minutes):

1. Hook:

   • Begin with a brief discussion on the concept of trust. Ask students if they think it's possible to earn someone's trust after a mistake.
   • Show a short video or image that illustrates an act of kindness or forgiveness.

2. Background on Langston Hughes:

   • Provide a brief overview of Langston Hughes and his significance in American literature, focusing on his themes of social justice and humanity.
   • Explain the historical context of the story (1950s America, African American experience).

Reading the Text (20-25 minutes):

1. Guided Reading:

   • Read the story aloud as a class, or have students read it silently or in pairs.
   • Pause at key moments to ask predictive or reflective questions (e.g., "What do you think Mrs. Jones will do next?").

2. Character Analysis:

   • After reading, ask students to describe the main characters, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger.
   • Use a graphic organizer to map out their traits, motivations, and the changes they undergo during the story.

Discussion (15-20 minutes):

1. Themes Exploration:

   • Discuss the themes of the story. Key themes include kindness, empathy, the impact of small actions, and personal growth.
   • Ask students how the story's themes relate to their own experiences. Have they ever been in a situation where they received unexpected kindness or had to make a moral choice?

2. Moral of the Story:

   • Engage students in a discussion about the moral of the story. What lesson does Langston Hughes want readers to take away?

Activity (20-30 minutes):

1. Writing Assignment:

   • Have students write a short essay or a journal entry from Roger's perspective after the encounter. How did this experience change him? What might he do differently in the future?

2. Role Play:

   • Students can pair up and act out the scene where Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones' purse. Then, they can improvise what might happen if Roger met Mrs. Jones a year later. How might their relationship have evolved?

Closing (5-10 minutes):

• Reflection:
  • Ask students to share one thing they learned from the story and how it might influence their actions in the future.
  • Summarize the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the power of kindness and forgiveness.

Homework:

• Students can be assigned to find another short story or real-life example that illustrates a similar theme of kindness or forgiveness and present it to the class.

Assessment:

• Participation in class discussions
• Quality of written assignment (essay/journal entry)
• Completion of graphic organizers and engagement in role play

This lesson plan encourages students to think deeply about moral choices and the impact of kindness, while also developing their reading and analytical skills.