Lesson Plan: I Need My Monster
Student Age/Level: 10 years old (intermediate English learner)
Objectives:
- Develop listening and reading comprehension skills.
- Expand vocabulary and explore idiomatic expressions.
- Stimulate creative writing and oral production in English.
- Reflect on the themes of the story, relating them to personal experiences.
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
Objective: Activate prior knowledge and prepare the student for the story.
- Ask the student about their childhood fears or if theyve ever imagined something under their bed.
- Introduce the book "I Need My Monster" and ask the student to predict what the story might be
about based on the title and cover.
2. Reading the Story (20 minutes)
Objective: Develop listening and reading comprehension skills.
- Read the story aloud or show the video of Rita Moreno reading (if you prefer native pronunciation).
- Pause at key points to check comprehension. Example questions:
- What did Ethan find under the bed?
- Why did he need the monster to sleep?
- How were the substitute monsters different from Gabe?
- Ask the student to predict what will happen next based on the story events.
3. Theme Discussion (15 minutes)
Objective: Encourage deeper analysis and interpretation of themes.
- Fear and courage: How do you think Ethan felt when Gabe left? Has she ever felt the same way?
- Dependence and independence: Why does Ethan feel so safe with the monster, and what does
this say about his emotions?
- Imagination: Discuss the role of imagination in the story and how it helps Ethan manage his fears.
4. Creative Writing (15 minutes)
Objective: Stimulate writing production and creativity.
- Ask the student to write a continuation of the story. Does Gabe return from his trip? What happens
next? They can create a new monster with unique traits.
- Provide sentence starters to help:
- "When Gabe returned, Ethan was very excited, but..."
- "That night, a new monster appeared, it was..."
5. Vocabulary Expansion (10 minutes)
Objective: Build vocabulary and explore new expressions.
- Choose 5 to 10 new words or phrases from the story. Suggested words: ragged, claw-scratching,
substitute, imagine, breathe.
- Discuss the meaning, synonyms, antonyms, and how to use them in different contexts.
- Ask the student to write sentences or a short story using these words.
6. Story Comparison (15 minutes)
Objective: Develop the ability to compare and contrast literary texts.
- Introduce another story about monsters or fear, like "Where the Wild Things Are" or a similar story.
- Discuss the similarities and differences between the two stories. Example questions:
- How are monsters portrayed in both stories?
- What are the main themes in each story?
- How do the main characters deal with their fears?
7. Closing and Reflection (5 minutes)
Objective: Review and reflect on the lesson.
- Ask the student to choose their favorite monster from the story and explain why they liked it.
- Ask what new things they learned during the lesson and which part they found most interesting.
- Encourage them to keep thinking about how imagination can help manage fear.
Materials Needed:
- "I Need My Monster" book (physical or video)
- Paper and pencil for creative writing
- Vocabulary list (to be created as the lesson progresses)
- Another monster story for comparison activity
