Lesson: Flags of the Nations Literature Project

Source: Philadelphia World Heritage Tool Kit

Created by: Denise Junkerman, Prep Charter High School

Subjects: English Language Arts

Grade Levels: 9-12

View or download this Lesson Plan. 

Overview: With LOVE Park serving as its entrance, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway extends from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Inspired by the Champs Elysees in Paris, the approximate mile-long boulevard is considered Philadelphia’s most monumental stretch of architecture, education, and art. In addition to museums, statues, fountains, and cathedrals, the Parkway is lined with flags of 109 countries from around the world. This international salute represents nations that have a significant population within the city. In recognition and celebration of these world cultures that create the heritage of Philadelphia, students will study and research literary genres set within a region of the world that is represented within the Parkway’s “Flags of the Nations.” Each student will read a major literary piece, maintain a reading log, and deliver an oral presentation.

Objectives: Throughout this quarter project, students will demonstrate his/her ability to: study literary work to impart knowledge of world authors, history, critical approaches, and ideological content; analyze the impact of societal and cultural influence; analyze the moral dilemmas in the works of literature as revealed by character motivation; identify literary theme reflective of historical significance, governing aspects, and ideologies associated with literary setting; consider varying themes related to the literature’s discussion of social, cultural, and political thought; analyze a literary work incorporating the skills of reporting, interpreting, synthesizing, and evaluating; express both intellectual and emotional response to the literature under consideration; compare and contrast cultures; compile relevant information and textual evidence in accordance with topic; document and present sources in accordance with MLA standards; and, prepare and deliver presentations with cohesiveness, clarity, and logic.

The Philadelphia World Heritage Tool Kit

This lesson is one of 29 lessons (K-12, all subjects) in the Philadelphia World Heritage Tool Kit. The goal of the Tool Kit is to help educators and their students develop a transnational analysis in their classrooms by using complex themes of world heritage as a framework to understand global regions across disciplines. These themes include shared architectural, cultural, economic, environmental, political, recreational, religious, and social heritage features.  Real teachers created these lessons and based their work on “best practices” that reflect student collaboration and the broad goals of young people in ways that support care and understanding of others who may be very different in background and history.