Slice of Life - An Elaborate Lesson Plan

I love participating in Slice of Life, started by Two Writing Teachers and writing a story, reflection, or musing at least once a week.

 

Sometimes it takes eight months to write, execute, and assess an elaborate lesson plan.

 

The big day has come and gone.

 

No, I'm not really talking about a lesson plan, but my cousin, Russ (he's a teacher, too), compared the wedding to an elaborate lesson plan.  As I was describing how I felt about how it went, he brilliantly used this analogy.  You write and plan it, tweak/improvise/adjust it as it's being executed, and analyze it afterward for what worked and what you could have done better.  I laughed, and we both said the idea could be written as a blog post.  Here we go...

 

Objective: To join together a man and woman forever

 

Lesson Structure:

Create mood with prelude/entrance songs,  procession, and mothers light the individual candles of the unity candle set - dramatic and emotional bride/father of the bride walk down the aisle

Statement and affirmation of objective

Review of relationship

Build background knowledge by greeting and introducing family and friends,  telling stories that demonstrate bride and groom's personalities

Lecture on how to make a successful marriage

Hands on participation activity: sing song and say prayer together, promise to support bride and groom

Agree to apply objective with rings

Celebrate completion of objective with applause, embracing, and high fives

Share what is learned while exiting room

 

Key Vocabulary: cherish, God, vow, unity, affirmation, scripture, Colossians, First John,  homily, family, joy, radiance, declaration, intent, gift, marriage, pronouncement, Mr., Mrs., benediction, blessing, toast, postlude, reception

 

Assessment:

Informal - smiles and photographs showing joy and love

Formal - toasts, dinner, fellowship, laughing, conversation, eating, and dancing to demonstrate understanding of the union

 

Materials: perfect venues, sunny and warm day, gorgeous wedding dress (and dress for reception), veil, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, heels, flowers, bouquets, boutonnieres, ring pillow (did we forget to give it to the ring bearer?), microphone for ceremony, rings, unity candle set (don't forget the taper candle holders), sunflower centerpieces for patio, seating charts, place cards, toasting glasses, navy napkins, yellow chair bows and ivory chair coverings, gold utensils and china, lamp centerpieces, ivory table skirts, card box, gift table, DJ table, garter, throwaway bouquet for bouquet toss (don't forget to figure out where it is), cake, corsages, flat shoes for dancing, marriage license, bridesmaids gifts, camera, champagne, prayers, tissues, touch up makeup for after tears, programs, notes for toasts, cake, family, friends (old and new), sparklers for exit (make sure bride and groom exit out correct doors), presence of God, and everlasting love

 
Artifacts:

 

This song sung by Chris Pipes, friend of the bride and groom, at the ceremony - it resulted in the bridesmaids singing along, making the lesson more memorable...

 

 

 

Present this photo of evidence of learning...