Lesson Plan for Mother’s Day by J.B. Priestley
Name: [Your
Name]
Date: [Date
of Lesson]
Grade: XII
Subject: English
Lesson Overview
Genre:
- Comedy-drama
with social commentary.
Date of Publication:
- Written in
the mid-20th century (published in 1950s).
About the Playwright:
- J.B.
Priestley was an English novelist, playwright, and social commentator. His
works often highlighted social issues, human relationships, and the
absurdities of societal norms. In Mother’s
Day,
Priestley humorously critiques gender roles and family dynamics.
Key Elements of the
Lesson
Best
Activity for the Play:
- Role-Reversal Skit:
- Students
act out a situation where traditional roles are reversed, mirroring the
transformation in the play.
- Objective:
Understand and empathize with the plight of the overworked mother while
reflecting on the impact of breaking stereotypes.
Key
Objectives of the Teacher:
1. Introduce
students to the socio-cultural critique in the play.
2. Highlight
the playwright’s use of humor and dramatic irony to address serious themes.
3. Encourage
students to analyze character transformation and themes of respect and
equality.
Learning
Objectives for the Child:
1. Understand
and explain the theme of Mother’s
Day, focusing on gender roles and family dynamics.
2. Analyze
the characters’ behaviors and their transformation during the play.
3. Develop
critical thinking skills by relating the play’s themes to modern societal
norms.
4. Practice
teamwork and creativity through skits or group discussions.
Marks Weightage in Exam
- Weightage:
- Questions
on the play typically carry 6-10
marks in
exams.
- Focus
areas: Character analysis, thematic exploration, and application of
lessons to real-life contexts.
Reference Points for
Assessment
Extrapolation
Beyond and Across the Text:
1. Understanding of Themes:
o
Discuss the gender roles highlighted in the play.
o
Relate these roles to current societal changes in gender
expectations.
2. Character Transformation:
o
Analyze how the characters (Mrs. Pearson and Mr. Pearson)
evolve.
o
Evaluate the significance of this transformation for the
family dynamic.
3. Relevance to Modern Times:
o
Examine the relevance of the play’s critique of gender
roles in today’s context.
o
Draw parallels to real-world examples of changing family
dynamics.
Analytical and
Evaluative Question
Question:
“How does J.B. Priestley use humor
and dramatic irony in Mother’s Day to critique societal norms and
gender roles? Support your response with examples from the play and real-life
scenarios.”
Expected Student
Response:
- Analysis
of Priestley’s use of humor to convey his critique.
- Discussion
of the transformation of Mrs. Pearson and its impact on the family.
- Relating
the play’s themes to contemporary examples of gender role reversals or
evolving family dynamics.
- Evaluative
conclusion on the effectiveness of the play’s message.
Instructional Strategies
1. Activating Strategy:
o
Begin with a discussion: “What are the typical roles of a
mother in a family? Are they different today than in the past?”
2. Teaching Strategies:
o
Introduction to the
Play: Provide a brief overview of the plot and main
characters.
o
Scene Analysis: Read
and analyze key scenes that depict role reversals and dramatic irony.
o
Class Discussion: Explore
the social critique Priestley is making.
o
Guided Questioning: Encourage
students to analyze character transformation and its significance.
3. Summarizing Strategy (Closure):
o
Ask students to reflect on how the play’s themes relate
to their own lives or families.
o
Revisit the essential question and objectives to
reinforce learning.
Resources and Materials
1. Copies
of Mother’s Day.
2. Whiteboard
or chart for mapping character relationships and changes.
3. Video
clips or skit materials for role-play activity.
4. Worksheets
with analytical and evaluative questions.
This lesson plan fosters engagement, critical analysis,
and application of lessons learned from the play to students’ real-world
experiences
