More for the Mind: Home > Shell Shocked Home > Shell Shocked: Lesson 3
Lesson Three: Using What You’ve Learned
Approximately one hour + assignment time
Discussion: Review (10-15 minutes)
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- Review previous lessons, including the three themes
- Present the rubric for the first-person letter
- Present letter format
- Discuss and brainstorm possible points of view and positions for the letter
Activity: (30-45 minutes)
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- Students demonstrate their new knowledge by writing a first-person letter discussing:
- conditions in a mental hospital, symptoms of ‘shell shock’
- home front circumstances that led to soldier’s institutionalization
- In the letter, have students write from the point of view of either a veteran patient or the mother/sister of a veteran patient
- The letter should be addressed to the Prime Minster and take a clear point of view with associated reasoning for one of the three positions:
- Patient should be released into custody of his family because… (i.e. conditions in hospital are not good)
- Patient should remain in hospital, but the following things should be changed…
- Patient is cured and should be released. He and his family are thankful for his treatment and facilities, specifically…
- Student should refer to More for the Mind sources to support the claims in their letter
- Students demonstrate their new knowledge by writing a first-person letter discussing:
Closing: (5 minutes)
- Summarize the key points of the lessons:
- Patient experience during 1910s-1920s
- experience of shell shock
- home front experience with returning soldiers
- Review criteria for letter writing
- Ask for questions
- Assign due date
Reaching All Learners
- The teacher may want to review rough drafts and, with student permission, use samples to illustrate the desired outcomes
- The class may also benefit from practice judging whether work reaches criteria
- Students can work with partners to proof read each other’s work, using the rubric to critique each other’s letters
- Letter format could be posted for easy reference
- Students who struggle with written work may be marked on content rather than format or editing.
Resources for Using What You’ve Learned
- Suggested letter format
- Suggested rubric for student letters