Lesson 6: Hoid Tells the Story — A Fairy Tale That Keeps Winking at You
50 min
Student Lesson
Lesson 6: Hoid Tells the Story — A Fairy Tale That Keeps Winking at You
Student Learning Objectives
Content
Students will analyze how Sanderson develops character and theme through key details in Tress of the Emerald Sea.
Language
Students will use textual evidence from Tress of the Emerald Sea to support written and oral analysis.
Foundations
Students will use domain-specific Lumar and spore-sea vocabulary when discussing the text.
Essential Question
How does Sanderson use textual evidence in this passage to develop theme and character in Tress of the Emerald Sea?
What does this scene reveal about power, agency, or identity?
Connections to
Knowledge-Building
Close reading "Tress of the Emerald Sea, Chapters 17-20: Hoid's Narrative Voice and Its Effect" builds the evidence base students need to analyze how Sanderson develops character and theme in Tress of the Emerald Sea.
Enduring Understanding
Close reading with annotation develops the habit of supporting claims with precise textual evidence — the same skill required in every writing lesson in this unit.
Future Lessons
Evidence gathered from this passage will be referenced in upcoming writing and discussion lessons.
Unit Performance Task
This close read directly informs the unit's performance task, which asks students to synthesize evidence across Tress of the Emerald Sea to argue about the unit's essential questions.
Lesson Pacing
| Lesson Flow | Purpose of Learning Experience |
|---|---|
Launch5 Minutes | Orient students to the day's learning goals and activate relevant prior knowledge about Tress of the Emerald Sea. |
Literacy Lab10 Minutes | Provide direct instruction on the day's focus skill before releasing students to practice with the anchor text. |
Learning in Action30 Minutes | Students apply the day's focus skill to the anchor text with teacher support through circulation, conferring, and targeted questioning. |
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Addressed in Lesson
Spores
On Lumar, the twelve moons rain down different types of magical spores that fall into seas; each spore type creates different Aether effects when activated by water.
Sprouter
A person who can control spores, using them as a weapon or a tool; a rare and valuable skill on Lumar.
Sorceress
Riina, the powerful antagonist on Lumar who curses visitors and rules the Midnight Sea; her tragic backstory complicates the fairy-tale villain role she seems to occupy.
Dougs
The undifferentiated crewmembers of the Crow's Song — every crew member of unclear background is called Doug, a running joke that also comments on how ordinary people become heroes.
Additional Vocabulary
Not available for this lesson
Material List
- Text: Tress of the Emerald Sea, Chapters 17-20: Hoid's Narrative Voice and Its Effect
- Graphic organizer: Character motivation tracker
- Handout: Annotation guide — tracking theme and evidence
- Student journals
Routines & Protocols
- Close Read & Annotation Protocol
- Think-Pair-Share
- Turn-and-Talk