Students will spend a minute or two writing down all of the different words they associate with the word 'lottery.'
These words would be called out and displayed on the board for discussion - ideally, a word cloud would be created.
Possible Questions for Discussion:
What do you think of lotteries?
Do you buy lottery tickets? How about family or friends?
Have you ever received any kind of windfall?
Do you think some people are luckier than others?
What are some things you have been kept in suspense over?
What are some things (other than the huge jackpots) that people win through a lottery drawing?
Would the acceptance of applicants using a lottery system make college admissions more fair? Why/why not?
Watch the following clip (the lottery scene) from the film Waiting for Superman:
If students have not seen the other clips on this wiki and do not know about this film, explain charter schools vs. public schools and why these students want to be given one of the few open spots in the charter school they applied for.
Have students paying particular attention to the following & open up these questions for discussion after the video:
The tension created as we watch the results unfold - what do the film makers do to enhance this tension?
How do you feel as you watch this clip? Do your feelings change as it progresses? Why/why not?
In what ways will the students' lives be changed after this lottery? Both those who won and those who did not.
Have you ever been in a similar situation as the students in the film? How does it compare?
Refer back to question about about college admissions - re-discuss - compare/contrast opinions of fairness.
Bring the topic of the chance of the lottery out further to the randomness of life in general - more philosophical discussion.
Show a clip from the TV Show Numb3rs where Charlie Epps, a genius mathematician is giving his students a lesson on randomness: Show beginning segment from 1:40-2:50 (The above link goes to Netflix, so you will need a subscription to view it - this clip is not available on Youtube)
People sometimes say that life is a lottery and you never know what is awaiting you, around any corner.
Do you agree with this sentiment? Why/why not?
Could also discuss Carpe Diem, being prepared vs. being paranoid, possibility vs. probability, et. al.
In pairs / groups of 3, have students talk about and list some of the things (both wonderful or terrible) that could possibly happen in the following situations:
In what ways would the 'wonderful and terrible' events you listed change your life?
Walking into a convenience store.
Swimming at the neighborhood pool.
Taking the airplane instead of the overnight train.
Buying a new computer.
Starting a new job.
Taking the dog for a walk.
Buying a lottery ticket.
Texting your best friend.
Checking the mail.
Think of some other situations of your own!
Have students volunteer to share some of their situations and wonderful and terrible outcomes.
Share this video clip of the beginning of the movie Sliding Doors to set up the writing activity which follows:
Discuss cinematic techniques used and what is being portrayed - what does this clip set up for the rest of the movie?
Writing Activity:
Students will use the discussions above as inspiration for the creation of two stories. They will choose one event/situation and write a story following the same main character where the event either happens to the character or not or where the event has a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the character. How is the character's life changed by something good or something bad happening to them?
Students have the choice of how to tell their stories:
Descriptive Narrative Essay
Short, One-Act Drama
Picture Book
Digital Video - either using live actors or narrated images/drawings and text.
Other Method - must be approved prior to beginning project!
Students must write two stories following the same character and two outcomes of the same event. They can either follow the pattern of sliding doors and alternate between paths (must clearly differentiate between character after good event and character after bad event) or they can write two completely separate stories which begin in the same way, but the outcome of the inciting event is different thus changing the story.
Topics/Activities for Further Discussion:
The Lottery Mentality - Op-ed article discussing America's mentality regarding income
In what ways might you argue that it parallels the portrayal of education in this film?
The following is a quote from a blog by Michael Moore-Jones about Non-linearity in Life:
"If we study for 365 days on a given subject but learn absolutely nothing, what’s to say that on the 366th day it won’t all suddenly click and the previous 365 day’s work will have paid off? Because of a degree of non-linearity in life, we cannot comprehend what events might occur. We are trained to think linearly — if we do x, then y will happen after z period of time. But in reality, that’s not how things work. We may play soccer for five years and suck, but then become world-class in the sixth year.
In my opinion, this is why our parents always tell us “keep all your doors open." If we close routes in life, then we let linearity have its way because we have removed the possibly of non-linearity working to our advantage."
What is your initial reaction to this quote? Do you agree or disagree?
Should we always "keep our doors open?" Can we, or are there doors that we must close?
Are the scenarios listed as examples about studying or playing soccer realistic/possible? Why/why not?
How do 'doors' get opened or closed for us by random events that are out of our control or ability to predict?
Are there 'doors' that you would intentionally close or suddenly be able to open because of a random event as discussed above?
People use RANDOM.ORG for holding drawings, lotteries and sweepstakes, to drive games and gambling sites, for scientific applications and for art and music. Randomize a List - numbers, words, phrases, emails, etc.
Writing Prompts - Random Word Generator
Poetry/Drama - Possible 'Lessnesses'
To give credit, I used this site as inspiration for this lesson, though I did not use much directly from it (I did not find much of the lesson useful, and I was unsure what level this lesson was geared for. Some of the discussion questions seemed to reach an older audience, but the activities were extremely simplistic).
Perspective/Possibilities Lesson Plan
Students will spend a minute or two writing down all of the different words they associate with the word 'lottery.'These words would be called out and displayed on the board for discussion - ideally, a word cloud would be created.
Possible Questions for Discussion:
What do you think of lotteries?Do you buy lottery tickets? How about family or friends?
Have you ever received any kind of windfall?
Do you think some people are luckier than others?
What are some things you have been kept in suspense over?
What are some things (other than the huge jackpots) that people win through a lottery drawing?
Would the acceptance of applicants using a lottery system make college admissions more fair? Why/why not?
Watch the following clip (the lottery scene) from the film Waiting for Superman:
If students have not seen the other clips on this wiki and do not know about this film, explain charter schools vs. public schools and why these students want to be given one of the few open spots in the charter school they applied for.Have students paying particular attention to the following & open up these questions for discussion after the video:
The tension created as we watch the results unfold - what do the film makers do to enhance this tension?
How do you feel as you watch this clip? Do your feelings change as it progresses? Why/why not?
In what ways will the students' lives be changed after this lottery? Both those who won and those who did not.
Have you ever been in a similar situation as the students in the film? How does it compare?
Refer back to question about about college admissions - re-discuss - compare/contrast opinions of fairness.
Bring the topic of the chance of the lottery out further to the randomness of life in general - more philosophical discussion.
Show a clip from the TV Show Numb3rs where Charlie Epps, a genius mathematician is giving his students a lesson on randomness:
Show beginning segment from 1:40-2:50 (The above link goes to Netflix, so you will need a subscription to view it - this clip is not available on Youtube)
People sometimes say that life is a lottery and you never know what is awaiting you, around any corner.
Do you agree with this sentiment? Why/why not?
Could also discuss Carpe Diem, being prepared vs. being paranoid, possibility vs. probability, et. al.
In pairs / groups of 3, have students talk about and list some of the things (both wonderful or terrible) that could possibly happen in the following situations:
In what ways would the 'wonderful and terrible' events you listed change your life?
- Walking into a convenience store.
- Swimming at the neighborhood pool.
- Taking the airplane instead of the overnight train.
- Buying a new computer.
- Starting a new job.
- Taking the dog for a walk.
- Buying a lottery ticket.
- Texting your best friend.
- Checking the mail.
- Think of some other situations of your own!
Have students volunteer to share some of their situations and wonderful and terrible outcomes.Share this video clip of the beginning of the movie Sliding Doors to set up the writing activity which follows:
Discuss cinematic techniques used and what is being portrayed - what does this clip set up for the rest of the movie?
Writing Activity:
Students will use the discussions above as inspiration for the creation of two stories. They will choose one event/situation and write a story following the same main character where the event either happens to the character or not or where the event has a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the character. How is the character's life changed by something good or something bad happening to them?Students have the choice of how to tell their stories:
- Descriptive Narrative Essay
- Short, One-Act Drama
- Picture Book
- Digital Video - either using live actors or narrated images/drawings and text.
- Other Method - must be approved prior to beginning project!
Students must write two stories following the same character and two outcomes of the same event. They can either follow the pattern of sliding doors and alternate between paths (must clearly differentiate between character after good event and character after bad event) or they can write two completely separate stories which begin in the same way, but the outcome of the inciting event is different thus changing the story.Topics/Activities for Further Discussion:
The Lottery Mentality - Op-ed article discussing America's mentality regarding income
In what ways might you argue that it parallels the portrayal of education in this film?
The following is a quote from a blog by Michael Moore-Jones about Non-linearity in Life:
"If we study for 365 days on a given subject but learn absolutely nothing, what’s to say that on the 366th day it won’t all suddenly click and the previous 365 day’s work will have paid off? Because of a degree of non-linearity in life, we cannot comprehend what events might occur. We are trained to think linearly — if we do x, then y will happen after z period of time. But in reality, that’s not how things work. We may play soccer for five years and suck, but then become world-class in the sixth year.
In my opinion, this is why our parents always tell us “keep all your doors open." If we close routes in life, then we let linearity have its way because we have removed the possibly of non-linearity working to our advantage."
What is your initial reaction to this quote? Do you agree or disagree?
Should we always "keep our doors open?" Can we, or are there doors that we must close?
Are the scenarios listed as examples about studying or playing soccer realistic/possible? Why/why not?
How do 'doors' get opened or closed for us by random events that are out of our control or ability to predict?
Are there 'doors' that you would intentionally close or suddenly be able to open because of a random event as discussed above?
Texts That Pair Easily With This Lesson:
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson"The Lottery Ticket" by Anton Chekhov
"After the Ball" by Leo Tolstoy
Chance in Fiction
Links for Cross-Curriculum Studies:
Computer Science/Technology/Graphic Art - Randomness LessonEconomics - Prospect Theory
Business/Marketing - Fooled by Randomness
Philosophy - The Lottery of Birth
Math - Certain and Impossible Events
Probability and Chance
Probability Lesson Ideas
Useful Online Tools:
People use RANDOM.ORG for holding drawings, lotteries and sweepstakes, to drive games and gambling sites, for scientific applications and for art and music.Randomize a List - numbers, words, phrases, emails, etc.
Writing Prompts - Random Word Generator
Poetry/Drama - Possible 'Lessnesses'
To give credit, I used this site as inspiration for this lesson, though I did not use much directly from it (I did not find much of the lesson useful, and I was unsure what level this lesson was geared for. Some of the discussion questions seemed to reach an older audience, but the activities were extremely simplistic).