Lesson Plan: Excuses vs. Reasons

Subject: English Language Arts Grade Level: Secondary (7th-9th grade)

Introduction: - Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever made excuses for not completing their homework or for being late to class. - Discuss with the students the difference between an excuse and a reason. - Explain that excuses are often used to avoid taking responsibility, while reasons are valid explanations for why something happened or was not done. - Emphasize the importance of being honest and taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Lesson Outline:

1. Warm-up Activity (5 minutes):
   • Show a short video clip that depicts a student making an excuse for not completing their homework.
   • After watching the video, ask students to share their initial thoughts and reactions.
   • Discuss as a class whether the student’s explanation was an excuse or a reason.
2. Introduction to Excuses and Reasons (10 minutes):
   • Provide a clear definition of excuses and reasons, highlighting the differences between the two.
   • Give examples of common excuses students might use and discuss why they are not valid reasons.
   • Share examples of valid reasons students might have for not completing their homework or being late to class.
3. Questioning and Discussion (15 minutes):
   • Engage students in a discussion by asking open-ended questions such as:
     • Why do people make excuses instead of giving valid reasons?
     • How can making excuses affect our relationships with others?
     • What are the consequences of always making excuses?
     • How can we differentiate between an excuse and a reason?
4. Worksheet Activity (20 minutes):
   • Distribute a worksheet that includes various scenarios where students need to determine whether the given explanation is an excuse or a reason.
   • In pairs or small groups, students should discuss and justify their answers.
   • After completing the worksheet, review the answers as a class, allowing students to share their reasoning.
5. Assessment (10 minutes):
   • Assign a short writing task where students need to reflect on a time when they made an excuse instead of giving a valid reason.
   • Instruct students to explain why they chose to make an excuse and how they could have handled the situation differently.
   • Collect and review the written responses for understanding and critical thinking skills.

Differentiation: - For students who need additional support, provide sentence starters or examples to help them differentiate between excuses and reasons. - For advanced students, encourage them to think critically about the consequences of making excuses and how it can impact their personal and academic lives.

Plenary: - Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility and providing valid reasons instead of making excuses. - Ask students to share one thing they learned or one strategy they can use to avoid making excuses in the future.

Video Resources: 1. “Excuses vs. Reasons” by The School of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vllPr3xwOw

Worksheet Resources: 1. “Excuses vs. Reasons Worksheet” by Teach Starter: https://www.teachstarter.com/us/teaching-resource/excuses-vs-reasons-worksheet/

Note: The provided video and worksheet resources are suggestions and may need to be previewed and adapted based on the specific needs and requirements of your students and school.