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Read Chapters 27-32; Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapters 27-32

Ask for two student volunteers to read and act out the scenario on the Role-Play Scenario Worksheet. As the rest of the class watches and listens to the role-playing scene, have students think about the types of conflicts, arguments, or disagreements taking place in the scene. Ask: "Do you see any conflicts or problems in the scene? Can you identify more than one type of conflict going on?"

will explain that just like in our scenario, conflicts exist in works of realistic fiction. I will explain that there are four types of plot conflicts: Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self, Character vs. Nature, and Character vs. Society. I will hand out the Types of Plot Conflicts Handout to become familiar with the types of plot conflicts that were displayed in the classroom scene. I will read aloud the description of each plot conflict from the handout. I will explain that although more than one plot conflict—or all four plot conflicts—can exist in any story,

I will be focusing on Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self in Maniac Magee. As I read the descriptions of the conflicts, I will try to identify which plot conflict or conflicts were shown in our scenario. I will figure out the plot conflicts in the Role-Play Scenario by looking at the Types of Plot Conflicts Handout to identify which conflicts were shown in the scenario. For each conflict, I will answer the following questions: Who is the conflict between? What is the cause of the conflict? Describe the tension in the conflict. Note: See Plot Conflicts Chart 1 for specific examples. Save this chart for use with Lesson 5.

The first conflict I come across in the scenario is between two people, a parent and a child. That answers the first question about who the conflict is between. Next, I will figure out what is the cause of the conflict. The parent and child are arguing about the child’s homework. Finally, I will describe the tension: The child uses a loud voice to tell the parent to stop bothering him about doing the homework. The parent tells the child not to yell. By recalling the Types of Plot Conflicts, I see that this plot conflict is an example of a Character vs. Character plot conflict because it is between two people. I will write this down on Plot Conflicts Chart 1.

I will chart another plot conflict in the scenario by answering questions about the conflict I will record the information on Plot Conflicts Chart 1. Who is this conflict between? I see that the child mentions that he had a rough day at school. He’s upset that he argued with his parent and took his anger out on his parent. This conflict is an internal one; it is happening within the child. This is a Character vs. Self conflict. What is the cause of the conflict? The child is upset that he got angry at his parent due to having a rough day at school. Finally, I will describe the tension in the conflict. The child is angry that he yelled at his parent. I can say that this is a Character vs. Self plot conflict.

I will explain that although more than one plot conflict—or all four plot conflicts—can exist in any book, we will be focusing on Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self for our Realistic Fiction Genre, and for Maniac Magee. Now, I will look for Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self Plot conflicts in the beginning of Maniac Magee. When I come across a conflict, I will record it on Plot Conflicts Chart 1. For each conflict, I will answer the following questions: Who is the conflict between? What is the cause of the conflict? Describe the tension in the conflict.

First, I will look at Chapter 1. I see that Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan hated each other. This conflict is between two characters, so that makes it a Character vs. Character conflict. I will write this down on Plot Conflicts Chart 1 and fill in some details about this conflict. The tension in this conflict is that while they do not like each other, they will not get a divorce because they are strict Catholics. It causes them to have two of everything, live in the same house, and live separate lives. As I skim Chapter 2, I see that the plot conflicts of Character vs. Character or Character vs. Self do not exist in this chapter. I will move to the next chapter.

In Chapter 3, Amanda and Jeffrey have a conflict. I will answer the questions for this conflict: This conflict is between two characters who are arguing over the usage of Amanda’s books. Jeffrey wants to borrow one of Amanda’s books, but Amanda does not want to loan her books out to him. I’ll add this information to Plot Conflicts Chart 1 and fill in the details for the conflict.

Chapter 4 gives an account of Arnold Jones and the high school students at the Finsterwald house. This is a Character vs. Character conflict because it is between one character and additional characters. The high school students want to pick on Arnold and throw him into the yard. Arnold is scared of both the students and being on the Finsterwald property because Finsterwald has a reputation of scaring others. I will record this on Plot Conflicts Chart 1 and fill in the details about this conflict.

In Chapter 7, I come across a conflict with John McNab and Maniac playing baseball. I know this is a Character vs. Character conflict because it’s between two people. Maniac wants to try and play in the game, but McNab doesn’t want him to. Maniac sneaks in and winds up hitting every pitch McNab throws. This causes McNab to get angry because he felt Maniac was embarrassing him and ruining his no hit game. I will record this on Plot Conflicts Chart 1 and add details about the conflict.

In Chapter 9, I see that John McNab had a personal problem because he is unable to strike out Maniac. The first paragraph of this chapter shows us that John was thinking about this event and concluded that he “couldn’t stand having this blemish on his record.” This points to a conflict within the character, or an internal conflict. This is a Character vs. Self conflict. I will record this on Plot Conflicts Chart 1 and fill in the details about this conflict.

Ask: "How can I identify a plot conflict in a text?" Students should respond that you can look at conflicts in a text and figure out details about the conflict, such as who is involved in the conflict and what the conflict is about, to decide what kind of conflict is presented in the story.

will divide the class in half. Half the class will find Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self plot conflicts in Chapters 10 to 15. The other half will find Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self plot conflicts in Chapters 16 to 20. Each member of the group will scan their assigned chapters. As each member comes across a plot conflict, he or she will record it on the Guided Practice Plot Conflicts Worksheet. As a group, discuss the conflict, making sure to answer the following questions on your Chart:

• Who is the conflict between?
• What is the cause of the conflict?
• Describe the tension in the conflict.

When we have finished reviewing our chapters, we will come back together to discuss the conflicts that we have identified. Each group will present and identify the conflicts they found. As a group, we will record the conflicts on Plot Conflicts Chart 2. As a class, we will discuss each conflict’s importance or impact on the story’s plot. Note: Examples are included on Plot Conflicts Chart 2. Recreate this chart on chart paper and record responses as each group presents the conflicts they have identified. Save this chart for use with Lesson 5.

will work with a partner and quickly reread Chapters 21 to 32 to look for Character vs. Character and Character vs. Self conflicts in the story. When you come across a conflict, you and your partner will record the type of conflict on the Plot Conflicts Worksheet. (See pages 26-27 in the Student Packet.) Together, you will identify who the conflict is between and what the details are about the conflict.

will come together to discuss the plot conflicts we have identified. (You may want to ask student pairs or groups to read a set number of conflicts aloud to the class, so that each conflict and description is only read once and the exercise moves quickly.) Each group will identify the type of conflict, who the conflict was between, and the details for each conflict. As a class, we will decide whether the conflict is important or not very important to the story. Choose one Character vs. Self and one Character vs. Character conflict from Chapters 21 to 32. Engage students in a predicting lesson to spiral back to their predicting skills covered in Lesson 2. Ask, "What can this conflict tell the reader about what’s coming up next in the text?" Encourage students to support their opinion with text evidence.