Lesson Plan: Are You Listening?
Subject/Course: English
Topic: Using literature to improve or maintain relationships and communication skills when experiencing parental incarceration
Grade Level: 9-12
Common Core Standards:
RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL. 9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
Episode: “Are You Listening?” (Season 6) Full audio | Transcript
Lesson Length/Time Needed: One to two class periods
Lesson Created by: J. Randisi (South Carolina)
Lesson Objectives
Students will explore new ways to build emotional intelligence and positive relationships by staying connected with parents using literature, such as Aesop’s Fables, as a common topic for interaction.
Students will uncover ways to define their morality and cope with estranged relationships by studying and discussing select Aesop’s fables.
Students will improve their listening, handwriting, and communication skills by implementing a letter-writing campaign that will help them process emotions.
Students will discover ways to develop executive functions, such as controlling impulses, paying attention, and responding appropriately to stressful situations.
Materials Needed
Audio
Listening device (computer)
Aesop’s Fables list of morals
6 Reports Get to Know Your Kid
Cursive handwriting resource and examples
Rose Thorn Bud handout
Internet access for research
Activities
Intro: Ask students what they know about Aesop’s Fables and whether they think the moral lessons portrayed are relevant in today’s society (About Aesop).
ACTIVITY
Ask students to share what they’ve learned about Aesop.
Module One: How important is it to keep trying to maintain a relationship with an incarcerated parent?
Listen to these “Are You Listening” timestamps: 2:19-3:39; 9:02-12:40; 35:20-36:28
ACTIVITY
While students listen to the Ear Hustle episode, have them take notes. Prompts might include: What is the difference between going to jail and going to prison? Do you know of anyone who has a parent in prison? Which perspective did you find the most interesting: the child’s POV, or the parent’s POV?
ACTIVITY
Ask students to select a fable from the list of Aesop’s Fables. Discuss the moral of the story in a letter, on a phone call, or during a visit to a prison. Ask students to come up with creative ways to make this age appropriate, relevant, and fun, such as making an ongoing game out of it to keep discussions going.
ACTIVITY
Come up with a list of conversation starters that could contribute to opening up or maintaining a child/parent relationship.
General Conversation Starters:
Ask students if they prefer to record their answers or write them in a letter.
What motivates you to get up in the morning?
What did you love to do as a child?
What is your favorite memory?
When are you the happiest?
What are some of your regrets?
If you had a financial windfall, what would you do with the money?
What three words best describe your personality?
What is your favorite quote?
What would you do if all you had was spare time and no work to do?
How are your values different from your parents’ values?
When are you at peace?
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
What three things are you good at?
What are your biggest accomplishments?
What makes you unique?
Conversation Starters for Kids to Ask Incarcerated Parents:
What kinds of things will we do when you get out?
What coping skills helped you?
What are your top three goals?
When did you feel most accomplished or proud of yourself?
What strengths, talents, and skills helped you to be successful?
Group Discussion (20 minutes): Divide the students into small groups and ask them to discuss their findings.
Module Two: How can students manage expectations and emotions when relationships become estranged or difficult?
Listen to these “Are You Listening” timestamps:15:49-18:53; 21:23-21:52; 40:05-40:36
ACTIVITY
Group discussion (20 minutes): Divide the students into small groups and ask them to discuss their findings. Encourage students to share what they learned and ask questions to clarify any misunderstandings.
ACTIVITY
Download the Rose Thorn Bud handout. Give students 1-2 mins to sit silently and reflect on their rose, thorn, and bud. Then give students 5 minutes to jot down ideas on their handout.
EXTENDED LEARNING
Where cursive writing has become a lost art and way of communicating, check out Sketch Academy for resources for expressing ideas in artistic and fun ways.
Content Warnings
Foul language alerts at timestamps 3.07; 26.06; 34.02; 34.11; 38.07; 38.14; 38.18; 40.47