PARTICIPATE IN A CLOSE READ The Little Mermaid Read the lyrics “Part of Your World” from the musical The Little Mermaid Annotate the text: Box the central message Circle unclear words and phrases In your own words, write two notes in the margins

GENERAL UNDERSTANDING Discussion With a partner, discuss the following questions: THE OBJECTIVE: What is does the singer of this song want? THE OBSTACLE: What is in the character’s way? What is preventing her from achieving her goal? Write the objective and the obstacle in the margins

KEY DETAILS Discussion With a partner, discuss the following: Describe at least two activities the singer would like to experience if she got her wish Use details from the text to support your answer Write your answer in the margins

REREAD: DEEPER FOCUS Each person reads one stanza aloud Look for pronouns On “I” and “me” point to yourself On “he,” “she,” “you,” “him,” “her,” “they” or “them” point to someone else at your table Notice how this adds pauses, inflections, intonations and emphasis How does this change your initial understanding of the lyrics? Add to your annotations

DISCOVERING CHARACTERS In this song, the character Ariel tells the audience her inner thoughts and desires. With your group, discuss the following: How is Ariel feeling in this song? What does she want? Who or what is keeping her from getting what she wants? Brainstorm a list of ideas (TACTICS) that Ariel could use to overcome the obstacles in her way

VOCABULARY AND STRUCTURE Each person reads one line out loud Choose one word in your line that you think is the most important Create a gesture to go with that word Each person says word with gesture How does this change or strengthen your understanding of Ariel? Add to your annotations

INFERENCES Read the lyrics out loud With your table group, discuss the following: Ariel’s obstacles are both external and internal, she wishes to live out of her waters and her limitations Choose one line from the song that best conveys Ariel as a character Add to your annotations

CREATE YOUR OWN MONOLOGUE Monologue: dramatic text spoken (performed) by one person Write a brief monologue exploring something important that you want or thought that you could never have. What are/were the obstacles in your way? What are/were the feelings evoked? Why?