Dec 16 2024 What Happened During the Ice Storm Pg 66 Sightlines

Silent Read 20 min.

Intro to next Short Story: 

Exploring What Happened During the Ice Storm

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the themes, tone, and literary devices used in What Happened During the Ice Storm.
2. Reflect on the moral and emotional implications of the boys’ actions in the story.

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Objective: Set the context for the story 

1. Prompt Discussion:

   • Video last major ice storm Canada - 1998 - Ontario and Quebec
     “What feelings or memories come to mind when you think about extreme weather events?”
   • Encourage a few students to share their responses.

2. Brief Context:

   • Highlight that the story explores themes of innocence, morality, and the relationship between humans and animals.

3. Jim Heynen: story’s focus on the rural Midwest during a harsh ice storm.

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2. Guided Reading & Initial Reactions (15 minutes)

Objective: Read and comprehend the text.

1. Read Aloud:
   • Read the story aloud - vocabulary, imagery.
2. First Impressions:
   • Ask students to write down their initial reactions to the story.
   • Suggested prompts:
     • What emotions did the story evoke?
     • How did you feel about the boys’ actions?

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3. Pair Analysis (20 minutes)

Objective: Analyze key elements of the story through discussion and group work.

1. Divide into Pairs: Assign each group one of the following topics:

   • Theme: What themes does the story explore (e.g., morality, compassion, innocence)?
   • Tone and Mood: How does Heynen create the tone of wonder and tension?
   • Imagery: Identify examples of sensory details and how they enhance the story.
   • Moral Dilemma: Was the boys’ decision to save the birds the right thing to do? Why or why not?

2. Pair Task:

   • Discuss and write key points on chart paper.
   • Prepare to present findings to the class.

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4. Class Discussion and Reflection (10 minutes)

Objective: Synthesize ideas and reflect on personal connections.

1. Group Presentations:
   • Each group shares their analysis with the class.
2. Class Discussion:
   • Use guiding questions:
     • How does the story make us think about our responsibilities toward animals and nature?
     • Can innocence excuse actions that might be seen as morally questionable?

Extensions:

Complete Question 1 - Page 67

Further - Objective: Encourage personal reflection and assess understanding.

1. Prompt: Ask students to write a response to the following question on their exit slip:
   • “If you were one of the boys in the story, how would you have reacted to the ice-covered birds? Why?”

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