Lesson Plan: "All About a Dog" by A.G. Gardiner (Class IX - WBBSE)
Lesson Overview
- Topic: "All About a
Dog" by A.G. Gardiner
- Grade: IX (West Bengal
Board of Secondary Education - WBBSE)
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Skills Covered: Listening,
Speaking, Reading, Grammar & Vocabulary, Writing
- Objective:
By the end of this lesson, students will: - Understand the central theme of the essay: civic
responsibility vs. rigid authority
- Identify and analyze the author’s tone and
perspective
- Develop key language skills through interactive tasks
- Reflect on the importance of empathy and
fairness in society
Lesson Structure
1. Warm-up Activity (5-7 mins)
Objective: Activate prior knowledge and engage students.
- Ask students:
- "Have you ever experienced a situation where
rules felt too rigid?"
- "How should authority figures balance rules
with empathy?"
- Introduce A.G. Gardiner as a renowned British
essayist known for his sharp observations of social behavior.
2. Listening Activity (8-10 mins)
Objective: Enhance listening and comprehension skills.
- Play or read an excerpt from "All About a
Dog" (focus on the scene where the bus conductor enforces the
rule).
- Task: While listening, students fill out a chart:
|
Character |
Role/Behavior |
Emotions |
|
Bus Conductor |
Strict, Authoritative |
Irritated, Rigid |
|
Lady Passenger |
Victim of role,
suffering |
Helpless, cold,
frustrated
|
|
Narrator |
Observer, critical of
rigid authority |
Sympathetic,
reflective |
3. Reading Activity (10-12 mins)
Objective: Promote comprehension through skimming, scanning, and
in-depth reading.
- Task:
- Skim: Identify the main
conflict in the essay.
- Scan: Find lines that
reflect the narrator’s criticism of the bus conductor.
- In-depth: Discuss how the
essay reflects human empathy vs. mechanical rules.
Discussion Questions:
- How does Gardiner portray the bus conductor’s
personality?
- What message does the essay convey about human
kindness and authority?
4. Speaking Activity (8-10 mins)
Objective: Encourage oral expression and argumentation.
- Group Discussion:
- Topic: “Rules are
important, but should they ever be broken?”
- Divide the class into two groups – For and Against
the argument.
Speaking Prompts:
- Express your opinion clearly and respectfully.
- Support your points with examples from the essay or
real life.
5. Grammar & Vocabulary (7 mins)
Objective: Reinforce key grammatical concepts through textual
analysis.
Task:
- Active to Passive:
- Original: "The conductor forced the lady to
leave."
- Passive: "The lady was forced to leave by the
conductor."
- Direct to Indirect Speech:
- Direct: The conductor said, “Dogs are not allowed
here.”
- Indirect: The conductor said that dogs were not
allowed there.
- Identify Sentence Type:
- “Why should we obey rules blindly?” – Interrogative
6. Writing Task (10 mins)
Objective: Practice formal writing and personal reflection.
Task (Choose One):
- Newspaper Report: Write a
report on the incident from the narrator’s perspective.
- Letter of Complaint: Imagine you are the lady passenger—write a formal letter to the bus
company expressing your dissatisfaction.
Format Guidance:
- Maintain formal tone and structure.
- Include key details: time, place, event, and
feelings.
Assessment & Homework
- In-Class Evaluation:
- Listening Chart (5 points)
- Group Discussion Participation (5 points)
- Grammar Accuracy (5 points)
- Writing Task (5 points)
- Homework:
- Write a personal reflection (150 words) on a time
when you felt rules were too strict.
- Practice converting 5 sentences from Active to
Passive Voice.