Hot Topics within Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen is packed full of opportunities to discuss mental health, and inclusive behaviors. Consider starting a Connor Project group at your own school, where inclusive behaviors are encouraged, and activities for ALL are planned.. Listen to each other. Get to know someone new..

New curriculum unit

Today is going to be an amazing day, and here's why:

Dear Evan Hansen curriculum unit!

This CCSS-aligned teaching packet contains activities for Dear Evan Hansen, by Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul. This includes chapter check questions, vocabulary, a character chart and several writing prompts and activities. Several short responses could also be used as essay prompts. Answer keys are included. Vocabulary has three separate matching quizzes to attempt to limit cheating and encourage proficiency and mastery; there are 45 vocabulary words total. The chapter check questions are divided into segments with lengths varying as chapters vary, and are perfect for homework, comprehension checks, independent study, make-up work, or quizzes. There are end-of-novel essay/discussion questions as well. Everyone needs to read this book.

Dear Evan Hansen

This book. EVERYONE should read it.

Ready Player One - Parzival

Wade Watts definitely had a distinct username for OASIS. I used information from this site to give students some background information about the significance of the name "Parzival."

Ready Player One

Yep, I am once again teaching a book that will be a movie. Therefore, I get to build interest very easily. Here is the imdb link!

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" writing idea

How did Will Grayson and will grayson change over the course of the novel? How have the events of the novel created two new Will Graysons?

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" discussion idea

Page 256 - "If you don't say the honest thing, it never becomes true."

Agree or disagree?

Examples?

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" discussion idea

Chapter 5  - "He calls everyone fu--er. Is it a compliment? An insult?"

When words are overused, do they lose their meaning? The "F" word is definitely overused at my school, and I honestly don't think it means the same thing to my students as it does to me.

What are some other words that are overused, and have lost their meaning?
"Worst" and "best"?

How can we adapt our writing (and speaking) to be effective?

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson"

Will Grayson, will grayson follows two boys named Will Grayson after they have a chance meeting. 

This book addresses sexuality, friends, and relationships.

Curriculum packet

"Champion" - Legend series #3

Champion is the conclusion to the "Legend" series, and we find resolution for Day and June.

Democracy and international relations play a big role in this novel, and some pre-teaching of how our current government is structured may help. This could even pair with a cross-curricular unit that looks at other forms of government, and how countries work together (the United Nations, World Trade Organization, etc.).

Curriculum packet

"Prodigy" - Legend novel #2

Prodigy is the second novel in the "Legend" series, and does an excellent job continuing the overall arc of June and Day's struggles. We are introduced to some new characters and new challenges as June is put in a very divisive position.

Curriculum packet

"Legend" project idea

June and Day come from such different lives, that I challenged students to really analyze their character, and investigate what would happen if roles were reversed.

What would happen if Day was in June's life? Would his character be different? Is he the product of his circumstances?

Ask the same questions of June - how would she be different if she were poor, struggling, and at the bottom of the social ladder? What elements of her personality and character would remain, and which did she develop simply because of her schooling and position in life? What would she be like if she weren't groomed for greatness?

"Legend"

This story is the first in another dystopian trilogy. I like that this story follows Day, a Robin Hood of sorts, and June, and switching narration back and forth. 

Themes to investigate include classes in society and the morality of robbing from the rich to give to the poor.

Curriculum packet

"Please Ignore Vera Dietz" timeline

My students were really struggling with all of the flashbacks, so they kept track of events on a timeline. In the end, they were able to see the string of events as they happened. This also led to good discussion on A. S. King's stylistic choices, and what the advantages are of this method of storytelling.

Here is the beginning of our completed timeline:

before Vera	Ken’s dad left when he was 3; he started drinking at age 10.
0	Vera is born, Cindy is 17, and Ken is 18.
>5 months – 1 year	Cindy is stripping to pay the rent since Ken spends all of their money on booze.
5 months	Ken goes to AA after he is too drunk to remember to feed Vera.
4	Ken passes his CPA test.
7	Charlie and Vera find the Master Oak, created by the Great Hunter.
11	Charlie tries to get Vera to smoke a cigarette.
11	During the summer, Charlie & Vera meet John the pervert on the trail.
12	Cindy moves to Vegas with Marty, the podiatrist.
12	Vera starts volunteering at Zimmerman’s pet store during the summer.
13	Charlie & Vera kiss on New Year’s Eve for practice.
13	During the summer, Vera volunteers two days a week at Zimmerman’s.
13	Charlie builds the treehouse.
14	Charlie goes to a football game with Ken & Vera, and Ken says to ignore the abuse.
14	Charlie goes to the doctor because his mom thinks he is throwing his underwear away, but he is really selling them to John the pervert.

"Please Ignore Vera Dietz"

Please Ignore Vera Dietz tells the story of two best friends, who end up growing apart and taking different paths in high school.

Issues and themes to discuss: drug addiction, abusive family members, inappropriate relationships with strangers, divorce, grit, determination, and survival.

"Eleanor & Park" '80s research

As an alternate to providing students with lots of information from the '80s is to let them look it up. I assigned one class to research popular culture in the '80s and asked them to make PowerPoints to share their knowledge with the rest of the class. I combined all of their PowerPoints into one, so there was some duplication, but overall students received lots of information.

Here is an example of one slide from one of my students:

"Eleanor & Park" - Preteaching the '80s

Preteach the ‘80s

These are topics specifically mentioned in the book.  I chose to play a song excerpt each day, and post pictures of items around my room.

• Skinny Puppy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKkRSUrTd8
• The Misfits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5tMKmmSODk
• XTC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo0lHEonFHc
• The Smiths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_KCri-xA0
• Joy Division https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVVdEqBbr4k
• U2/Bono https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdm10Ot7yIA
• spiral perms http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/p_worst_hair_trends/p4261/page8
• feathered bangs http://www.liketotally80s.com/2013/05/feathered-bangs-gallery/
• Swatch watches http://mirror80.com/2012/05/friday-video-pick-a-swatch-watch-commercial-from-1988/
• Esprit http://www.liketotally80s.com/2013/11/esprit/
• Mary Lou Retton http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/the-top-10-moments-in-u-s-olympic-history-20120726/mary-lou-retton-earns-all-around-title-los-angeles-1984-19691231
• Wheaties boxes https://www.flickr.com/photos/generalmills/6882162973/
• book covers http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paper-Bag-Book-Cover

I also showed some clips of TV shows from the ‘80s, such as “Growing Pains,” “The Cosby Show,” and “Family Ties.”

"Eleanor & Park"

Eleanor & Park is a novel about love in the midst of bullying and abusive relationships. 

Curriculum packet

"The Beginning of Everything" project idea

Create a few projects to anonymously leave gifts for teachers - possibly even host a "Floating Movie Theater." Most teachers wouldn't mind a movie screening in the lounge or library in exchange for some dry-erase markers or a little chocolate. Students are surprisingly willing to bring things (even spare change), and showing a film at the right time never hurt anyone.

"The Beginning of Everything"

Ezra Faulkner was once the golden boy of his high school, but a car accident changed everything. Join Ezra as he attempts to re-invent his identity, and discovers who his true friends really are.

Curriculum packet