Fallen Angels Unit

This is a guide to our unit plan for Walter Dean Myers’s Fallen Angels.  Lessons are not mapped out on a calendar to allow room for discussion or deeper exploration of some topics; we may do more than one or two lessons in one class period or lessons may take more than one class period. We will be completing most of the accompanying assignments and activities based on sections of the book, not just chapters.  We will watch a variety of films and documentary concerning the Vietnam War and the war protests happening in America.

Lesson 1
•	Discuss what you know about the Vietnam War (pass around images from the Vietnam War)
•	Vietnam War Web Search
•	Understanding Narrative Design ~ Predictions of the Novel

Lesson 2
•	Watch a clip from Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam
•	Anticipation Guide (handout)
•	Vocabulary Map Assignment
•	Character Directory

Lesson 3
•	Introduce Interactive Notes/Cornell Notes (Double-Entry Journal)
•	Begin reading chapters 1-5 (Section 1)
•	Chapter 1-2 group discussion handout
•	 “Dear Mama….” Letter (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)
•	Novel Notes: Section 1 (read) ~ enrichment
•	Making Meanings handout (section 1)

Lesson 4
•	Read chapter 6-10 (Section 2)
•	Map It Out (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)
•	Novel Notes ~ enrichment
•	Making Meanings handout (section 2)
•	Bring out the Poet in You (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)

Lesson 5
•	Read chapters 11—14 (Section 3)
•	After reading Chapter 11: group discussion handout
•	Novel Notes ~ enrichment
•	Letter Back Home  (handout)
•	Making Meanings handout (section 3)

Lesson 6
•	Conflict (Literary Concept #3 handout)
•	Dear Diary (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)
•	Novel Notes ~ enrichment

Lesson 7
•	Read chapters 15-18 (Section 4)
•	Strategic Reading #3 ~ chapter 12-16 (handout)
•	Watch a clip of Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
•	Making Meanings handout (section 4)

Lesson 8
•	Strategic Reading (Effects of the Decision) ~ handout
•	The (Not So) Funny Papers (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)
•	Caretakers & Patients (portfolio)

Lesson 9
•	Read chapters 19-23 (Section 5)
•	Strategic Reading #4 ~ chapter 17-23 (handout)
•	Novel Notes ~ enrichment
•	Do a Little Advertising (see “Building Your Portfolio” Writing Assignments/Activities handout for directions)
•	Making Meanings handout (section 5)	

Major Assignments
•	Seeing Double (compare/contrast essay) 100 points
•	A Vision of War (creative) 100 points
•	On The Scene (video ~ creative) 100 points