Grade

9

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

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Curriculum Connections

Ontario Language Curriculum 2023 (Grade 9, English - ELA)

• Reading and Literature Studies (1. Reading for Meaning):
  • 1.2 Identify key ideas and details in literary texts, including characters, setting, and plot, to demonstrate understanding (1.2).
• Writing (1. Writing to Develop Knowledge and Understanding):
  • 1.3 Develop ideas for a variety of writing forms, including story retelling (1.3).
• Oral Communication (1. Listening to Understand):
  • 1.1 Demonstrate understanding of an oral text by identifying and discussing key ideas and supporting details (1.1).

Overall Expectation:

• Use a variety of strategies to understand, interpret, and respond to oral, visual, and print texts.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand what retelling a story involves (characters, setting, plot).
• Identify key elements of Percy Jackson Season 2, Episode 2 recap.
• Demonstrate oral comprehension through group discussion.

Success Criteria

• I can explain what retelling means.
• I can identify the main characters, setting, and events of a story.
• I can share my ideas clearly and listen to others.

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Materials Needed

• Video recap (Percy Jackson Season 2, Episode 2; approximately 5-7 minutes)
• Whiteboard or chart paper and markers
• Story elements graphic organiser (characters, setting, plot)
• Sticky notes and pens
• Projector/smartboard

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Lesson Outline

1. Warm-Up & Activating Prior Knowledge (10 minutes)

• Use a quick Think-Pair-Share: Ask students, “What do you think retelling a story means?”
• Record ideas on whiteboard/chart paper. Clarify by sharing a simple definition: Retelling is telling the story again using your own words and explaining important parts like who, where, and what happened.
• Introduce the success criteria and “I can” statements on the board for reference throughout the lesson.

2. Direct Instruction: Story Elements (10 minutes)

• Introduce the three key elements of a story for retelling:
  • Characters: Who is in the story?
  • Setting: Where does it happen?
  • Plot: What happens (main events)?
• Model filling in a story elements graphic organiser using a short, familiar story (e.g., a fairy tale) on the board.
• Ask a few guided questions to reinforce understanding.

3. Video Viewing: Percy Jackson Recap (7 minutes)

• Show the Percy Jackson Season 2, Episode 2 recap video.
• Encourage students to take mental notes for the discussion ahead.

4. Guided Practice: Group Discussion (15 minutes)

• In groups of 4-5, students use a printed graphic organiser to identify:
  • Main characters featured in the episode
  • Settings introduced or featured
  • Key events that happened in the episode
• Teacher circulates, prompting students with questions and helping focus on important details.
• Each group records their findings using sticky notes.

5. Sharing and Class Discussion (10 minutes)

• Groups post their sticky notes on the board under the headings: Characters, Settings, Plot.
• Facilitate a whole-class discussion comparing and synthesizing the main points.
• Highlight any differences or omissions and clarify with additional video references if needed.
• Reinforce the importance of including all three story elements when retelling.

6. Independent Reflection & Exit Ticket (8 minutes)

• Students write their own brief retelling of the episode in 3-4 sentences using their graphic organiser notes.
• Exit Ticket Prompt: “What is the most important element to include in a retelling and why?”

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Differentiation Strategies

• For diverse learners:
  • Provide graphic organisers with sentence starters (e.g., “The main character is...”, “The setting is...”)
  • Pair ELL learners with buddies for discussion to support language development.
  • Use visuals from the video and elaborated oral instructions to scaffold comprehension.
• For students with special needs:
  • Allow use of voice-to-text on devices for their written retelling.
  • Offer extra time for writing tasks.
• For advanced learners:
  • Ask them to identify subplots or infer characters' motivations during group discussion.
  • Encourage them to consider how the setting shapes the plot in the retelling.

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Extension Activities

• Create a storyboard or comic strip retelling the episode emphasising characters, setting, and key plot points.
• Write a journal entry from one main character’s perspective detailing the episode events.
• Film a short video retelling the episode using first-person narration or acting.

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Assessment

• Informal formative assessment through group discussions and sticky note contributions.
• Exit ticket writing used as a summative check for understanding retelling key elements.
• Teacher observation and anecdotal notes on student participation and comprehension.

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I Can Statements

• I can explain what retelling a story means.
• I can identify characters, settings, and events from a story.
• I can work with my peers to retell a story clearly.
• I can write a brief retelling including important story elements.

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Notes for Teachers

• This lesson builds a foundational understanding of retelling that will develop in the next lessons through writing and performance of retellings.
• Leveraging popular media like Percy Jackson increases engagement and relevance while aligning with Ontario literacy expectations.
• Emphasize oral communication skills as part of literacy development—listening, speaking, and demonstrating comprehension orally.
• Ensure classroom environment supports collaborative, respectful dialogue to enhance participation from all students.