The Very Last Green Thing Lesson Plans

Where Is the Family
Grade Level
Any
Target Curriculum Area
Social Studies
Cross-Curricular Areas
English/Language Arts
Fine Arts
Common Core Anchor Standards
Reading 1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical
inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support
conclusions drawn from the text.
Reading 3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact
over the course of a text.
Speaking and Listening 4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such
that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and
style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Objectives
The students will:
1. Describe the multiple roles of families in today’s society.
2. Evaluate the needs of a future family.
3. Synthesize a role for a family that meets those needs.
Materials
Whiteboard/Smartboard and writing implements
Procedure
Ask the students, “What is a family?” As they respond, represent the family with stick figures on
the board. Some descriptions may be of the nuclear family; some may be variations that include
extended families. Be sure that all family structures are represented and that no judgments are
made on the types of structures that students describe.
Pick three unique structures and ask the students to describe what they think the role of each of
the people in these families would be. Who works outside the home? Who takes care of the
young children? Who goes to school?
Have the students read the libretto of The Very Last Green Thing and describe the families of the
students in the opera. (They should not be able to do so because no family is mentioned.) Have
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