Lesson Plan
Day: M T W T F
10 Gate
Date: 12.2.16
Time: 12:15pm
Year:
Learning Area: English Topic: The Truman Show
Curriculum content description:
Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in
texts(ACELT1812)
Identify and analyse implicit or explicit values, beliefs and assumptions
in texts and how these are influenced by purposes and likely
audiences(ACELY1752)
Students prior knowledge and experience:
Students have discussed some themes and issues while watching The
Truman Show
Students are establishing note taking skills
Students have knowledge of some of the themes and ideas explored within
the text as well as the language of film, the techniques used to implement
the themes and ideas
Learning purpose:
Identifying and analysing ethical positions on a current issue such as the
power of media, including values and/or principles involved and be able to
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the position in the context of the
issue
Learning objectives:
Evaluation:
On completion of this lesson,
students will be able to:
Walk around groups of
students,ensure they are on task and
ascertain their critical engagement
with the current issue
They listen for ways features
within texts can be
manipulated to achieve
particular effects.
They make presentations
and contribute actively to
class and group discussions,
building on others' ideas,
solving problems, justifying
opinions and developing and
expanding arguments.
Preparation and Resources:
Know the issues and themes of the text in order to discuss them with the
students
Prepare engaging and open questions
Prepare worksheet for students
Possibly utilise whiteboard so students can see theirs and others work if
appropriate
Catering for diversity
Discussing the themes first ensures all students have a basic understanding
of what the worksheet will be asking them.
Using both audio and written components will give students the opportunity
to gain the same information as others.
Discussed students with mentor teacher no special requirements needed
for students
Timing Learning Experiences:
20:00
1. Introduction:
35
Start with a discussion of some of the main themes and topics of
The Truman Show, go over students notes they have taken and
talk about the techniques used in the text.
Engaging questions:
What does Truman represent? - Materialism, commodity, trapped,
surveillance
Is Christof an important figure in the film? How? - God like power,
Creator of Seahaven
What does the film say about society? - Consumer society,
surveillance/technology, power of media
2. Sequence of learning experiences:
12
3-5
Distribute worksheets to students to work on in groups of 3 or 4
for 12 minutes. Sit with each group to ensure they are on track,
allow them to reach their own conclusions through engaging
questions.
3. Lesson conclusion:
Run through the worksheet with the whole group, going through
each of the answers, ensuring everyone comes to the same
conclusions.
Through group work the students will be able to see how the text
can be manipulated to achieve particular effects. Group work will
enable them to build on others ideas, solve problems and running
through each question together will help develop and expand
their arguments.
Lesson Evaluation:
This lesson went well, students engaged with the questions and worked well
in pairs to form answers. Time management of the lesson went to plan. I
discussed the questions with each group as they tackled them, asking them
open questions to help them reach their own conclusions. When running
through the questions in the last five minutes I had each pair tell the other
pair what they came up with for their answer, allowing more discussion
between the students. This worked effectively to help the students gain a
greater understanding of the questions and answers. The learning objectives
for this lesson were reached satisfactorily.
The Truman Show Worksheet
1. How does Christof manipulate Truman's relationships and why?
2. What obstacles does Truman need to overcome and what does he find at the end?
3. What is the significance of the audience?
The Truman Show Worksheet My copy
4. How does Christoff manipulate Truman's relationships and why?
To keep confined/trapped
Through the use of fear (water)
Actors used to manipulate his weaknesses Mother reminds him of his fears, Meryl reminds him of
'real life' demands, Marlon reinforces the Seahaven 'happiness/utopia'
5. What obstacles does Truman need to overcome and what does he find at the end?
Overcomes his fears of water, letting people down, air travel (dangers), mortality to find the truth
6. What is the significance of the audience?
Engrossed with Truman's life lost in it
Living vicariously through Truman
power of the media
7. Name 4 themes/issues that are explored in the film and examples of how these are
shown.
Control
Exploitation
Power
Media/technology
Overcoming fear
Relationships
Surveillance/Big Brother
Reality
Consumer Society/Materialism
8. What role does Christoff portray and how is this done?
God like power
The consummate 'artist'
Lacking empathy, removed from human relationships
9. What is the purpose of 'The Truman Show' to the audience?
Entertainment
Portraying utopian society
Feelings some are so involved in Trumans life, some bet on his life mirror of our society
10. How is technology used in 'The Truman Show'?
Thousands of cameras, technology has grown as Truman has
Largest man-made structure, can be seen from space
Broadcast all over the world far reaching, into peoples homes
Pervades every aspect of life of Truman's life and the audience
11. What issues is 'The Truman Show' showing us in relation to our own society?
Technology being used to watch us 24/7
Planned urban communities isolating ourselves
Our propensity to waste our lives on the idea of celebrity
The media and its power to persuade
12. Discuss the idea of materialism and consumerism and how this is portrayed in 'The
Truman Show'
Everything on the show is for sale
Truman as a marketable product
Product placement
The audience buying into the idea of a utopian society
13. Curiosity is an inherent trait we as humans are born with. How is Truman's curiosity
met and dealt with?
Squashed
Dismissed
Controlled with fear through manipulations of relationships and manufactured events
Lied to
