Lesson Plan: The Jungle Book
Subject: English Literature
Class: 6th Grade
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Play - "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling (Unit 3, Term III)
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the teacher aims to help students:
- Understand the elements of drama including characters, dialogue, setting, and scenes
- Analyze the themes of protection, courage, and standing against bullies
- Recognize the structure of The Jungle Book as a classic adventure tale
- Develop reading comprehension through dramatic literature
- Learn about the Laws of the Jungle and their moral implications
- Build vocabulary related to animals, jungle life, and dramatic expressions
- Appreciate Rudyard Kipling's storytelling and character development
- Understand the concept of adoption, acceptance, and found family
2. Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Stand up to bullies and protect those who are weaker or vulnerable
- Show courage even when facing powerful opposition
- Accept differences in others and welcome those who are different
- Follow rules and laws that protect the community
- Act with honor and keep their promises
- Respect all life regardless of appearance or origin
- Think independently rather than following threats or intimidation
- Value family bonds whether biological or chosen
3. Introduction (5 minutes)
Engaging Questions:
- "Have you heard of Mowgli or The Jungle Book? What do you know about this story?"
- "Do you think animals can raise a human child? What would be the challenges?"
- "If you found a helpless baby (human or animal) in danger, what would you do?"
- "Have you ever stood up to someone who was bullying or threatening someone weaker? How did it feel?"
- "What does the phrase 'the law of the jungle' mean to you? Is it about chaos or rules?"
4. Reading and Understanding (8 minutes)
New Vocabulary with Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Utter darkness | Complete darkness; total blackness | It is utter darkness as the moon has not risen |
| Squealing | Making high-pitched crying sounds | The four squealing cubs |
| Mean | Of low rank or quality; humble | For so mean a person as myself |
| Spiteful | Deliberately hurtful or malicious | In a spiteful tone |
| Shifted hunting grounds | Moved to a different area to hunt | Shere Khan has shifted his hunting grounds |
| Quarters | Living area or territory | No right to change his quarters |
| Due warning | Proper advance notice | Without due warning |
| Scour | Search thoroughly | They will scour the jungle for him |
| Bullock | Male cow or ox | Neither bullock nor buck |
| Buck | Male deer | He hunts tonight |
| Whine | High-pitched complaining sound | The dry, angry whine of a tiger |
| Humming purr | Low rumbling sound | Changes to a humming purr |
| Bewilders | Confuses or puzzles | That bewilders woodcutters |
| Untigerish | Not typical of a tiger | An untigerish howl |
| Quarry | Prey being hunted | My quarry went this way |
| Cattle-killer | Insulting term for tiger who hunts domestic animals | Striped cattle-killer |
| Fostering | Raising a child not your own | This fostering of man-cubs |
| Raksha | Mother Wolf's name, meaning "The Demon" | Mother Wolf (Raksha) springs forward |
5. Mind Map
THE JUNGLE BOOK
by Rudyard Kipling
|
┌────────────────┼────────────────┐
| | |
CHARACTERS THE SETTING THE CONFLICT
| | |
┌───┴───┐ ┌────┴────┐ ┌────┴────┐
| | | | | |
WOLVES VILLAIN SEEONEE TIME SHERE KHAN MOTHER
| | HILLS | VS. WOLVES WOLF'S
| | | | | STAND
Father Shere Middle 7 PM Wants |
Wolf Khan of Evening Man's Protects
| | jungle | cub baby
Protects Lame | Utter Claims |
territory tiger | darkness "quarry" Defiant
| | Cave | | |
Follows "Lungri" setting Moon Threatens Fierce
law | | not Pack |
| Bully | risen | Refuses
Brave Lawless | | Demands surrender
| | | | cub |
| Hunts | | | Names
Mother Man | | Backed Mowgli
Wolf | | | out "Frog"
| Cattle | | growling |
Strong killer | | | Prophecy
Fierce | | | | |
| Burned | | | "You'll
Raksha feet | | | hunt him"
"Demon" | | | |
| No due | | |
Protective warning | | |
| | | | |
| Breaks | | |
Wolf jungle | | |
Cubs law | | |
| | | | |
4 cubs | | | |
play with | | | |
Mowgli | | | |
| | | | |
| JACKAL | | |
| | | | |
| Tabaqui | | |
| | | | |
| Flatterer | | |
| Brings bad | | |
| news | | |
| Serves | | |
| Shere Khan | | |
MOWGLI (MAN'S CUB)
|
┌───────┴───────┐
| |
CONDITION FUTURE
| |
Naked Will run
Baby with Pack
| |
Just Will hunt
walking with Pack
| |
Alone Will hunt
Hungry Shere Khan
| |
Not Moves to
afraid village
| |
Laughs at Returns
wolves to jungle
|
Bold
THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE
|
┌───────┴───────┐
| |
DON'T EAT TERRITORY
MAN RULES
| |
Brings Must give
humans with due warning
guns before
| changing
Everyone quarters
suffers |
| Pack decides
Shere Khan not
breaks law individuals
6. Consolidation and Presentation (8 minutes)
Summary of the Lesson:
"The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling is a timeless tale of courage, family, and standing against injustice. This dramatic adaptation focuses on the opening scenes where a human baby, later named Mowgli, is discovered and protected by a wolf family despite threats from the fearsome tiger Shere Khan.
Scene I - The Warning: The play opens in the Seeonee Hills at 7 PM on a sunny evening, though darkness has fallen as the moon hasn't risen. Father Wolf prepares for his nightly hunt while Mother Wolf settles their four squealing cubs into the cave.
Their peaceful evening is interrupted by Tabaqui, the jackal—a character representing flattery and troublemaking. He enters offering exaggerated compliments ("Good luck and strong white teeth go with noble children") while begging for food. Despite his obsequious manner, Tabaqui delivers ominous news in a "spiteful tone": Shere Khan, the great tiger, has "shifted his hunting grounds" and will hunt in these hills for the next month.
The narrator provides crucial background: Shere Khan lives twenty miles away and is nicknamed "Lungri" (the Lame One) because he's been lame in one foot from birth. This physical imperfection has made him cruel and vengeful.
Father Wolf responds with righteous anger: "He has no right to come here! By the law of the Jungle, he has no right to change his quarters without due warning." This establishes that the jungle operates under laws, not chaos—civilized rules govern animal behavior.
Mother Wolf adds a practical concern: Shere Khan has been killing cattle near the Waingunga village, angering the villagers who will "scour the jungle for him," putting all animals at risk when "the grass is set on fire" during their search. One animal's lawlessness endangers the entire community.
Scene II - The Law Broken: Father Wolf hears Shere Khan's "dry, angry whine"—the sound of a frustrated hunter who has caught nothing. Father Wolf criticizes this: "The fool! To begin a night's work with that noise!" showing that experienced hunters know stealth is essential.
Mother Wolf's keen senses detect something more troubling: "It is neither bullock nor buck he hunts tonight. It is Man." The whine changes to a "humming purr that bewilders woodcutters and gypsies"—Shere Khan is using his hypnotic voice to hunt humans.
Father Wolf expresses disgust: "Man! Are there not enough beetles and frogs?" The narrator then explains the crucial Law of the Jungle: eating Man is forbidden because it brings "men with guns and rockets," causing everyone to suffer. Shere Khan is breaking the most important law, endangering the entire jungle community for his own desires.
Scene III - The Discovery: Shere Khan's hunt fails—he howls "an untigerish howl" of frustration. Mother Wolf correctly interprets: "He has missed." Father Wolf deduces what happened: "The fool has had no more sense than to jump at a woodcutter's campfire, and has burned his feet."
Then Father Wolf hears something approaching uphill and prepares to spring—but stops mid-leap when he sees his "prey": "Man! A Man's cub. Look!" A naked baby who can just barely walk stands before him, looking up at the fearsome wolf and—remarkably—laughing.
Mother Wolf, curious, asks to see this creature she's "never seen." Father Wolf gently lays the child among his own cubs "without scratching the skin," showing immediate care and gentleness. Mother Wolf observes with wonder: "How little! How naked, and—how bold!" Father Wolf adds: "See, he looks up and is not afraid."
This fearlessness in the face of dangerous predators marks Mowgli as extraordinary from the start.
The Confrontation: Shere Khan thrusts his massive head and shoulders into the cave entrance, with Tabaqui cowering behind. He demands: "My quarry. A Man's cub went this way. Give it to me."
Father Wolf stands firm, delivering a powerful statement of principle: "The Wolves are a free people. They take orders from the Head of the Pack, and not from any striped cattle-killer. The Man's cub is ours—to hunt if we choose."
The insult "striped cattle-killer" is particularly cutting—it reminds Shere Khan that instead of hunting wild game like a proper tiger, he kills domestic cattle, marking him as both lawless and unimpressive.
Shere Khan responds with attempted intimidation: "What talk is this of choosing? It is I, Shere Khan, who speaks!" His authority rests solely on his fearsome reputation and physical power.
Mother Wolf's Stand: At this critical moment, Mother Wolf (Raksha, meaning "The Demon") springs forward. Her eyes are "like two green moons facing the blazing eyes of Shere Khan." In this dramatic standoff, she makes a fierce declaration:
"The Man's cub is mine. He shall live to run with the Pack and to hunt with the Pack; and in the end, he shall hunt you!"
This is both adoption and prophecy. She claims the baby as her own son, promises to raise him as a wolf, and predicts he will one day turn the tables—the hunter will become the hunted.
Shere Khan, unable to defeat Mother Wolf's maternal ferocity and Father Wolf's support, backs out of the cave growling threats: "We will see what the Pack will say to this fostering of man-cubs. The man-cub is mine and will come to me in the end!"
Scene IV - Mowgli: After the threat has passed, Father Wolf asks Mother Wolf if she's certain about keeping the baby. Her response is beautiful and determined:
"Keep him! He came naked, by night, alone and very hungry; yet he was not afraid! Lie still, little frog. O you Mowgli—for Mowgli the Frog I will call you—the time will come when you will hunt Shere Khan as he has hunted you."
She names him "Mowgli the Frog" because of his naked, hairless skin and the way he moves. Her prophecy reaffirms that this helpless baby will grow strong enough to defeat the tiger who tried to kill him.
The narrator concludes by noting that the story continues with Mowgli's acceptance by the wolf Pack, his friendships with Bagheera (the panther) and Baloo (the bear), and his journey between the jungle and human village before ultimately choosing jungle life.
Themes and Messages:
- Standing against bullies: The wolves refuse to be intimidated by Shere Khan's threats
- Protection of the vulnerable: A helpless baby is defended at great personal risk
- Rule of law vs. might makes right: The jungle has laws that even powerful animals must follow
- Family is chosen, not just biological: Mother Wolf adopts Mowgli as truly as her own cubs
- Courage over fear: Mowgli's fearlessness and Mother Wolf's bravery define heroism
- Actions have community consequences: Shere Khan's lawlessness endangers everyone
- Prophecy and destiny: Mowgli is destined for greatness and will fulfill Mother Wolf's prediction
The play teaches that true strength lies not in physical power but in moral courage, that laws exist to protect everyone, and that family bonds can transcend species.
7. Reinforcement (5 minutes)
Additional Information:
- About Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936): British author born in India; won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907; The Jungle Book (1894) remains his most famous work
- The Real Seeonee Hills: Located in Madhya Pradesh, India; Kipling set his story in real geography though he'd never actually visited these hills
- Wolf Pack Structure: Real wolf packs have alpha leaders and strict hierarchies; Kipling accurately depicted this social structure
- The Full Story: This play shows only the opening; the complete Jungle Book includes Mowgli's education by Baloo and Bagheera, his conflict with Shere Khan, and his ultimate choice between jungle and village
- Law of the Jungle: Kipling created elaborate "jungle laws" based on real animal behavior mixed with human morality; these laws teach cooperation, respect, and community responsibility
- Cultural Impact: The Jungle Book has been adapted countless times (Disney animated film 1967, live-action films, stage plays); Mowgli has become an iconic character representing the connection between humans and nature
- Symbolism: Shere Khan represents tyranny and lawlessness; the wolves represent honor and community; Mowgli represents the possibility of bridging two worlds
- Historical Context: Written during British colonial rule of India; reflects Victorian-era ideas about civilization, law, and nature
8. Evaluation
a) Lower Order Thinking Question (Knowledge/Comprehension)
Question: "Who are the main characters in the play, and what does Shere Khan want? Why do Father Wolf and Mother Wolf refuse to give it to him?"
Expected Answer: Main characters:
- Father Wolf - protects his territory and follows jungle law
- Mother Wolf (Raksha) - fiercely protective, adopts Mowgli
- Tabaqui - jackal who brings news and flatters Shere Khan
- Shere Khan - lame tiger who is the villain
- Man's cub - the baby who becomes Mowgli
- Wolf cubs - four cubs who will be Mowgli's siblings
What Shere Khan wants: He wants the Man's cub (baby Mowgli) because he was hunting him and considers the baby his "quarry" (prey).
Why the wolves refuse:
- Wolves are "a free people" who take orders from their Pack leader, not from Shere Khan
- Shere Khan is a "cattle-killer" who breaks jungle laws
- The Man's cub came to them, so it's theirs to decide about
- Mother Wolf has claimed him as her own and wants to raise him
- They believe in protecting the helpless, not surrendering them to bullies
b) Middle Order Thinking Question (Application/Analysis)
Question: "Analyze why Shere Khan is called 'Lungri' (the Lame One) and breaks the Law of the Jungle by hunting Man. What does this reveal about his character? Compare Shere Khan's use of power with Father and Mother Wolf's use of courage."
Expected Answer:
Why Shere Khan is lame and lawless:
- He was born lame in one foot, making him a less effective hunter
- His physical limitation may have made him bitter and cruel
- Instead of hunting challenging wild prey, he kills easy targets (cattle)
- Breaking the law by hunting Man shows he doesn't care about community consequences
- He brings danger to all jungle animals because humans will retaliate
- His lameness and failures have made him vengeful rather than humble
What this reveals about his character:
- Selfish: Puts his desires above community safety
- Bully: Uses fear and intimidation rather than respect
- Lawless: Breaks rules that protect everyone
- Arrogant: Believes he's above the law ("It is I, Shere Khan, who speaks!")
- Vengeful: Wants to kill a helpless baby out of pride
Power vs. Courage comparison:
Shere Khan's power:
- Based on size, strength, and fear
- Uses threats and intimidation
- Demands obedience through terror
- Selfish and destructive
- Ultimately backs down when faced with true courage
The Wolves' courage:
- Based on principles and moral conviction
- Uses reason and law
- Earns respect through honor
- Protective and selfless
- Stands firm despite being physically weaker than tiger
Lesson: True strength comes from courage and principle, not just physical power. The wolves, though smaller than Shere Khan, defeat him morally by refusing to be intimidated.
c) Higher Order Thinking Question (Synthesis/Evaluation)
Question: "Evaluate Mother Wolf's decision to adopt and raise Mowgli despite the danger from Shere Khan and the challenges of raising a human child. Was this wise or reckless? What does this decision teach us about moral courage and protecting the vulnerable in our own lives? Create guidelines for when we should stand up to powerful people or bullies."
Expected Answer:
Evaluation of Mother Wolf's decision:
Arguments it was WISE:
- Moral duty: Protecting helpless innocents is the right thing to do
- Law supports her: The cub came to them; they have the right to keep him
- Pack democracy: The Pack, not Shere Khan, makes decisions
- Standing against tyranny: Giving in to bullies encourages more bullying
- Love and instinct: Her maternal instinct recognizes a child needing protection
- Prophecy: She senses Mowgli will grow to defeat Shere Khan
- Community good: Standing against lawbreakers protects everyone
Arguments it could be RECKLESS:
- Danger to family: Shere Khan may attack her cubs to get revenge
- Pack conflict: Other wolves might object to raising a human
- Practical challenges: Human babies have different needs than wolf cubs
- Future complications: Mowgli may struggle between two worlds
- Ongoing threat: Shere Khan promises "the man-cub will come to me in the end"
Overall evaluation: Mother Wolf's decision was MORALLY WISE though PRACTICALLY RISKY. Sometimes doing the right thing requires courage despite danger. Her decision proves that:
- Moral conviction is more important than personal safety
- Protection of innocents justifies risk
- Standing against bullies is necessary even when frightening
- Family is defined by love and protection, not biology
What this teaches us:
- Protect the vulnerable: Like Mother Wolf protecting a helpless baby, we should help those who cannot help themselves
- Don't be intimidated: Bullies rely on fear; standing firm often makes them back down
- Moral courage matters: Doing right despite consequences defines character
- Community responsibility: One person's courage inspires others
GUIDELINES FOR STANDING UP TO BULLIES:
When to Stand Up:
- When someone vulnerable is being harmed or threatened
- When rules/laws are being broken that protect everyone
- When silence would make you complicit in injustice
- When you can do so reasonably safely (get adult help if needed)
- When the bully's power is based only on fear, not legitimate authority
How to Stand Up (Safely):
- Use words first: Clearly state what's wrong ("This isn't right")
- Invoke rules/authority: "The school rules say..." or "The teacher said..."
- Stand together: Like Father and Mother Wolf together, groups are stronger
- Alert authorities: Tell teachers, parents, or other adults
- Document: Keep evidence of bullying behavior
- Don't fight physically: Use moral courage, not violence
- Protect the victim: Help them get to safety
- Be firm but calm: Like Mother Wolf—fierce but controlled
When to Get Adult Help:
- Physical violence is threatened or occurring
- You feel genuinely unsafe
- The bully is much older/larger/in position of power
- The situation is escalating beyond your control
Remember Mother Wolf's example:
- She didn't attack Shere Khan; she just refused to surrender Mowgli
- She used fierce words and presence, not violence
- She had Father Wolf's support (find allies)
- She was protecting someone helpless, not seeking conflict
- Her courage came from love and principle, not hatred
Application to school:
- Stand up for students being excluded or teased
- Report bullying to teachers instead of ignoring it
- Include those who are left out (like adopting Mowgli into the pack)
- Don't spread mean gossip or join in mocking others
- Support friends who are facing bullies
- Be the "Mother Wolf" who says "This child is under my protection"
The lesson: You don't need to be the biggest or strongest to stand against wrongdoing. You need principle, courage, and willingness to protect those who need help.
9. Remedial Teaching
Strategy for Slow Learners:
-
Character Cards with Pictures:
- Card 1: Father Wolf (strong, follows rules)
- Card 2: Mother Wolf/Raksha (fierce protector)
- Card 3: Shere Khan (lame tiger, bully)
- Card 4: Tabaqui (sneaky jackal)
- Card 5: Man's cub/Mowgli (brave baby)
-
Simple Good vs. Bad Chart:
- GOOD: Wolves protect baby, follow laws, stand up to bully
- BAD: Shere Khan breaks laws, hunts Man, threatens baby, bullies others
-
Four-Scene Story Board:
- Scene 1: Tabaqui brings warning about Shere Khan
- Scene 2: Baby Mowgli appears, not afraid
- Scene 3: Shere Khan demands baby
- Scene 4: Mother Wolf says NO and keeps baby
-
Acting Out (Simplified):
- Student 1 (Baby): Stands and laughs
- Student 2 (Mother Wolf): "This baby is MINE! I will protect him!"
- Student 3 (Shere Khan): "Give me the baby!"
- Student 2: "NO! Go away, bully!"
-
Key Phrases to Remember:
- "The Law of the Jungle" = rules everyone must follow
- "Man's cub" = human baby = Mowgli
- "My quarry" = Shere Khan thinks baby is his prey
- "The Man's cub is MINE" = Mother Wolf adopts baby
-
Question After Each Scene:
- Scene 1: "Who brings the bad news?" (Tabaqui)
- Scene 2: "What does Shere Khan hunt?" (Man/the baby)
- Scene 3: "Who finds the baby?" (Father Wolf)
- Scene 4: "Does Mother Wolf give the baby to Shere Khan?" (NO!)
-
Simple Theme: Mother Wolf is brave and protects a helpless baby from a bully tiger.
-
Picture Sequence: Arrange pictures showing: Warning → Baby appears → Tiger demands → Wolf protects
-
Feelings Chart:
- Shere Khan: Angry, mean, selfish
- Wolves: Brave, protective, kind
- Mowgli: Fearless, innocent, lucky
-
Real-Life Connection: "If you saw a bully threatening a smaller child, would you tell a teacher? That's what Mother Wolf did—she protected someone smaller!"
10. Writing Activity (8 minutes)
Writing Task: "Imagine you are Mowgli (now grown up) telling your own children the story of how Mother Wolf saved and adopted you. Write this story (150-180 words) in first person. Include:
- How you arrived at the wolves' cave as a baby
- What Shere Khan wanted to do to you
- How Mother Wolf protected you and what she said
- How you felt about being raised by wolves (even though you were a baby then, imagine the feeling)
- What you learned about courage and family from this experience
- A message about the importance of protecting those who need help"
Guidelines:
- Write as adult Mowgli speaking to his children ("When I was just a baby...")
- Show gratitude and love for Mother Wolf
- Include at least 3 vocabulary words from the lesson
- Convey the drama and danger of the situation
- End with a moral lesson about courage and protection
Example Opening: "My children, let me tell you how I came to be raised by wolves. When I was just a naked baby, barely able to walk, I wandered into the jungle one dark evening..."
11. Follow-up Activities
Homework Assignment:
- Character Analysis: Choose either Mother Wolf or Shere Khan and write a character description (120-150 words) explaining their personality, motivations, and what they represent in the story.
Additional Activities:
-
Law of the Jungle Poster: Create a poster showing "3 Important Rules for Our Classroom" modeled after the Law of the Jungle concept (rules that protect everyone).
-
Comparison Chart: Create a chart comparing Shere Khan (the bully) with Mother Wolf (the protector). List at least 5 differences in their behavior and values.
-
Script Extension: Write a short additional scene (10-15 lines of dialogue) showing what happens when the Wolf Pack meets to decide whether to accept Mowgli.
Extended Learning:
-
Research Project: Research real wolf pack behavior and write a paragraph about how real wolves care for their young and organize their families.
-
Adaptations Study: Watch a clip from Disney's The Jungle Book (1967 or 2016) and write a comparison (150 words) between the movie version and the play version.
-
Drama Performance: Work in groups of 5-6 to perform one scene from the play with proper expression, movement, and emotion.
-
Creative Writing: Write an imaginary diary entry from Father Wolf's perspective on the night they found Mowgli, expressing his thoughts and concerns.
-
Moral Courage Essay: Write about a time when you or someone you know stood up to a bully or protected someone weaker. Compare it to Mother Wolf's courage (150 words).
-
Kipling Biography: Research Rudyard Kipling's life in India and write 5 interesting facts about how his experiences influenced The Jungle Book.
Assessment Criteria:
- Understanding of plot and character motivations (25%)
- Recognition of themes (courage, protection, law vs. lawlessness) (20%)
- Vocabulary comprehension and usage (20%)
- Analysis of dramatic elements and conflict (20%)
- Application of moral lessons to real life (15%)
Resources Needed:
- Character cards/pictures for remedial teaching
- Map of India showing Seeonee Hills location
- Pictures of wolves, tigers, and jackals
- Video clips from Jungle Book adaptations (if available)
- Props for drama performance (masks, simple costumes)
- Chart paper for group activities
Cross-Curricular Connections:
- Geography: Madhya Pradesh, Seeonee Hills, Indian wildlife habitats
- Science/Biology: Wolf pack behavior, tiger characteristics, jungle ecosystems
- Social Studies: British colonial India, Rudyard Kipling's era
- Values Education: Courage, protecting the vulnerable, standing against bullies, rule of law
- Drama: Script reading, performance, character development
- Environmental Studies: Wildlife conservation, human-animal conflicts
- Life Skills: Moral courage, standing up to bullies, accepting differences
Extension for Advanced Learners:
- Compare The Jungle Book's "Law of the Jungle" with real legal systems
- Research cases of feral children raised by animals (limited documented cases)
- Analyze the symbolism of each character (what they represent beyond the story)
- Write a critical analysis of colonialism in Kipling's works
- Create a detailed character map showing relationships between all Jungle Book characters
- Compare different cultural adaptations of The Jungle Book story
No comments:
Post a Comment
Post a comment