Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English
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    • Book Reviews >
      • The Black God's Drums >
        • The Black God's Drums Reviews
        • Black God's Drums Lesson Plans
      • Review of Cicada
      • Child of the Dream
      • A drop of hope
      • Wish you all the best
      • Music of What Happens
      • Riverdale
      • Homegoing
      • Maybe This Time
      • Moon Within
      • The Outwalkers
      • Focused
      • Take the Mic
      • Merci Suárez Changes Gears
      • Guts
      • Bone Hollow
      • The Book of Boy
      • #NotYourPrincess
      • It's a Whole Spiel
      • A Spark of Light
      • Six Goodbyes We Never Said
      • The Forgotten Girl
      • Inhuman

Quick Lesson Plan Ideas and Examples for ​The Black God's Drums

In-class PowerPoint Presentations:

Length: 1-2 class periods
Supplies needed: Access to computers or other devices access to PowerPoint/Google Slides
Great for: Using historical information to enhance understanding of a text, speaking practice, and practice with working in a group

Overview of Procedures: Divide students into groups of 3-4, and assign them a specific aspect related to The Black God's Drums to make a slideshow about with the purpose of informing the class. Sample aspects include: 
  • The American Civil War: real information vs. how it is portrayed in the book
  • The Haitian Revolution: real information vs. how it is portrayed in the book
  • Geography/demographics/information/history/colonialization of Haiti
  • Geography/demographics/information/history/colonialization of New Orleans
  • Yoruba religion/gods/beliefs/traditions
  • Steampunk: history, popular examples, common archetypes and tropes
Each group should be given 30+ minutes to work at researching and creating a presentation for their assigned topic. Some general instructions for the presentations might be: 
  • Every slide needs an image
  • 36 point font minimum to keep students from filling each slide with text. Most of the information should be said aloud.
  • Every slide should be informative 
  • Every student needs to participate in the presentation

When students have been given enough time to finish their slideshows, have them each deliver their presentation to the class. Length of presentations and required slides can be adjusted based on the level of the class and the time available. 

Sample PowerPoints: 
haitian_revolution.pdf
File Size: 521 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

new_orleans.pdf
File Size: 986 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

steampunk.pdf
File Size: 461 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

the_civil_war_in_history_and_the_black_god’s_drums.pdf
File Size: 518 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

yoruba.pdf
File Size: 566 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Playlist and Letter for Creeper
​
Length: 30-40 minutes
Supplies needed: Writing Utensil or word processor  
Great for: Thematic analysis, character study, creative writing

Overview of Procedures: 
Either alone or in small groups, students are to make a playlist of 5 or more songs that somehow relate to the book, either overtly or thematically. Each song needs to be accompanied by a justification as to how/why it relates. Once the playlist has been created, students will then write a half-page "letter" to Creeper, explaining why they picked each song, and why she might be interested in them. These letters can be shared out loud with the class, with time permitting. 

​Sample playlists/letters:



creeper’s_playlist.pdf
File Size: 78 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

playlist_for_creeper.pdf
File Size: 188 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
WEBSITE: www.okcte.org  
EMAIL: okcteenglish@gmail.com  
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OKCTE is a proud affiliate of NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)
  • Home
  • About
    • Executive Board
    • #OKCTE Photos
  • Membership
  • Professional Learning
    • #OKCTE Awards
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
  • Publications
    • OK English Journal (OEJ)
    • Young Writers Contest (YWC)
    • OKCTE Voices
  • Resources
    • teachOK
    • Online Unit Plans
    • Book Reviews >
      • The Black God's Drums >
        • The Black God's Drums Reviews
        • Black God's Drums Lesson Plans
      • Review of Cicada
      • Child of the Dream
      • A drop of hope
      • Wish you all the best
      • Music of What Happens
      • Riverdale
      • Homegoing
      • Maybe This Time
      • Moon Within
      • The Outwalkers
      • Focused
      • Take the Mic
      • Merci Suárez Changes Gears
      • Guts
      • Bone Hollow
      • The Book of Boy
      • #NotYourPrincess
      • It's a Whole Spiel
      • A Spark of Light
      • Six Goodbyes We Never Said
      • The Forgotten Girl
      • Inhuman