Lesson 1, Let the Circle Be Unbroken, Student Guide

Language Arts/English |
Unit: Let the Circle Be Unbroken | Lesson 1: Let the Circle Be Unbroken Introduction

Harley Stephenson
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Student Guide
Unit: Let the Circle Be Unbroken
In this unit, you will read Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor. The novel, set in Mississippi at the height of the Great Depression, tells the story of the Logan family, focusing mainly on the children—Cassie, Stacey, Christopher-John, and Little Man. The Logans face poverty and racism, as well as the ordeal of watching a family friend named T.J. go on trial for his life over the murder of a white man. With the help of their parents, their grandmother, and each other, the children learn important lessons about pride, self-respect, family, and community.
Unit Objectives
• Demonstrate comprehension of text.
• Identify theme.
• Identify character traits and motivations.
• Describe characters on the basis of speech, actions, or interactions with others.
Graded Assignments
Lesson Assignment Scored by
1 Let the Circle Be Unbroken Journal Part 1 Teacher
8 Let the Circle Be Unbroken Journal Part 2 Teacher
12 Unit Test Computer
12 Unit Test Teacher

Lesson 1: Let the Circle Be Unbroken Introduction
In this session, you will answer a few questions before beginning to read Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor.
You will also print the Journal Part 1 assignment and work on it as you read Chapters 1–7 of Let the Circle Be Unbroken.
Goals for the Lesson
• Complete assigned reading.
• Look for themes in your reading.
• Learn about characters through your reading.
Graded Activities in this Lesson


Let the Circle Be Unbroken Journal Part 1 (offline, scored by teacher)



Materials
Student Guide
Self-Check Answers
Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor





Start Reading
Before You Read
Consider the following questions before you begin your assigned reading.
• Let the Circle Be Unbroken takes place during the Great Depression. What do you know about the Great Depression? What other works of literature have you read that take place during the Great Depression?
The great depression took place during the 1930’s. It ended after the United States entered World War II in 1941. The sequel to this book, Roll of Thunder, Hear my cry, also took place during the great depression.



• Imagine that you were called upon to help your family during a time of difficulty. How would your capacity to help be different as a young teenager than it would be if you were a small child? What could you do as a young teenager that you could not do as a child?

As a teenager I could get a job and help out more, as I would be more independent. Young children, aren’t so independent and still need their parent’s help with things. They’re not able to do things on their own, yet.


Definitions
Here is a list of words that you will find in this lesson’s reading.
• sprawled:spread
• disdainfully: with great disapproval
• proposition: a proposal
• haunches: hips and upper thighs
• belfry: bell tower
• unbridled: open; free or unrestrained
Reading Notes
Read Chapter 1 of Let the Circle Be Unbroken. Use the space below to take notes as you are reading. Although you may not have something for every category, you should focus on the critical ideas in this reading and try to convey them.
Plot: Summarize the plot from the reading. List all important events and developments.
On the way home one day, in November, David Logan and his four children- Stacey, Cassie, Christopher-John, and Little Man- stop at the home of the Ellises David, referred to by Cassie and the other children as Papa, offers his help in taking care of a sick mule. Afterward, the adults catch up on local news, including the latest on the upcoming trial of T.J. Avery, a young boy who has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a white man. The general consensus is that T.J., who used to be a good friend of Stacey Logan, has very little chance against the racist Mississippi justice system. Also of interest to everyone is the brief return of Russell Thomas, a cousin of the Ellises who had moved away not long ago. He has returned home for a visit before beginning his service in the U.S. Army. As the adults and Russell talk, the children retire to another room to see the new marbles of Son-Boy. Cassie and the others are impressed by Son-Boy’s prized emerald-blue marble, and they begin to shoot marbles. Papa soon comes to retrieve the Logan children, and he insists that they not shoot marbles anymore. He sees marbles as a short step away from gambling, and he wishes his children to avoid the problems associated with gambling.
One Sunday not long after this, Cassie decides that she is going to break the rule about marbles. She is good at shooting marbles, and she develops a plan to challenge Son-Boy to a game in which the stakes are his marbles. Though Christopher-John and Little Man insist that Cassie shouldn’t break their father’s rules, Cassie will not be deterred. Son-Boy foolishly agrees to the game, and Cassie beats him handily. She is only briefly in possession of the emerald-blue marble, however, as David quickly discovers what his daughter has done. He makes her return the marble to Son-Boy and promises to punish her later. Before services begin, however, there is a minor panic at the church as a young girl, Doris Anne, is seen playing on the rope that rings the church bell in the belfry. Everyone rushes to the belfry and finds the girl being held by Wordell Lees, a local boy most people view as simple. David calmly convinces Wordell to give him the child, and though others believe Wordell to be responsible for the scare with Doris Anne, David thinks that Wordell was actually trying to help. Before church begins, Cassie sees Joe, the one who was actually responsible for the situation involving Doris Anne, dash into the woods.




Character: What characters appear in the reading? Describe the characters and their relationships to each other.




Big Ideas and Themes: Analyze the conflict/problem and any themes you see in the reading.




Synopsis: Summarize the most important things that happened in this reading selection in 1–2 sentences.




Predictions: Predict what you think will happen next.






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Optional: Beyond the Lesson


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