Lesson Plan: "A Day in the Zoo" by Gerald Durrell
Grade: IX (Class 9)
Board: WBBSSE (West Bengal Board of Secondary Education)
Duration: 40-45 minutes
Lesson Type: Prose (Literary Appreciation and Language Skills)
Lesson Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Listening & Speaking: Discuss the main events and share their zoo experiences.
- Reading: Identify key details, themes, and character descriptions.
- Grammar: Recognize and use descriptive adjectives and past tense verbs.
- Vocabulary: Understand and use new words from the story in sentences.
- Writing: Compose a descriptive paragraph about a visit to the zoo.
Materials Needed
- Textbook (with the story "A Day in the Zoo")
- Whiteboard and markers
- Audio recording (if available) or teacher narration for listening
- Worksheet with comprehension questions and vocabulary exercises
Lesson Structure
1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)
- Engage Students:
- Ask: "Have you ever been to a zoo? What animals did you see?"
- Share a quick anecdote about a zoo visit.
- Objective Introduction:
- Explain that they will explore Gerald Durrell’s humorous and vivid account of a day in the zoo.
2. Listening & Reading (10 minutes)
- Listening:
- Play or read aloud a section describing the animals and the zoo’s atmosphere.
- Students listen for specific animal descriptions.
- Reading:
- Students read the first two paragraphs silently.
- Discuss the tone—how does Durrell make the zoo feel lively?
3. Discussion & Comprehension (10 minutes)
- Guided Discussion:
- What are the different sections of the zoo described?
- How does Durrell portray the animals’ behavior humorously?
- Comprehension Check:
- What animal does Durrell describe as "arrogant"?
- How does the author capture the relationship between animals and visitors?
4. Grammar & Vocabulary (8 minutes)
- Grammar Focus:
- Identify past tense verbs (e.g., roared, wandered).
- Recognize descriptive adjectives (e.g., playful monkeys, ferocious lion).
- Vocabulary Exercise:
- Define and use words like enclosure, mischievous, exotic.
- Fill in the blanks with suitable descriptive words from the story.
5. Writing Task (7 minutes)
- Prompt:
- Write a descriptive paragraph about a visit to a zoo. Include at least three animals and their behaviors.
- Example Starter:
- "The tiger paced restlessly behind the iron bars while a group of children giggled nearby…"
6. Conclusion (5 minutes)
- Recap:
- Summarize key takeaways: Durrell’s humor, animal descriptions, and zoo life.
- Homework:
- Write a diary entry imagining yourself as a zookeeper for a day.
Assessment:
- Participation in discussions.
- Accuracy in grammar and vocabulary exercises.
- Clarity and creativity in the writing task.
