Project-Based Learning Lesson Plan: Exploring ‘Lord of the Flies’ International English Day

        Project-based learning has always been integral to the English Language curriculum at Hin Hua High School, offering students benefits beyond traditional classroom learning. It empowers learners to take ownership of their learning, fostering a meaningful and immersive educational experience that cultivates lifelong skills.

        In July 2023, under the guidance of Ms Nai Sheah Qin, Senior 2 Manchester and Senior 2 Berlin embarked on an enriching project centred around William Golding's timeless classic, Lord of the Flies. Over the course of six weeks, students engaged in a comprehensive exploration of the novel that extended beyond mere comprehension. They participated in the English Language Centre (ELC)’s reading club, delved into plot dynamics, conducted character analyses, and discovered the moral values embedded in the story.

        The project began in Week 1 with Ms Nai introducing the novel to the class. Given the students’ varying language proficiency levels, they were provided with a simplified version of the novel to read independently. Quizzes on the first few chapters were carried out and subsequently both classes participated in a reading club hosted by the ELC where they joined the hosts in exploring the story plot, characters, and themes of Lord of the Flies. A few Senior 2 Manchester students even contributed their thoughts in the discussion session, sharing their take on the philosophy of the story.

        In Week 3, Ms Nai got the students to analyse the novel’s plot and key characters such as Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, supported by textual evidence. They also started identifying the themes, symbolism, and discussed the moral values conveyed in the book in their respective project groups.

        In Week 4 and 5, students collaborated to create artworks that encapsulate the novel’s themes and significant plot elements, including the characters, themes and moral lessons, in preparation for an upcoming Gallery Walk.

        The Gallery Walk in Week 6 involved the two Senior 2 classes delivering presentations to two Senior 1 classes (also taught by Ms Nai) respectively in the English Language Centre classrooms during the second recess. In their respective rooms, the presenters used artworks in various forms (2D and 3D posters, pop-up book, self-programmed online board game, PPTs) and conducted mini game sessions, which successfully facilitated their juniors’ understanding of the classic novel and its moral lessons.

        As the sessions were carried out on different days, the two Senior 2 classes were also encouraged to attend each others’ sessions to see how their peers of another class performed. The teacher-host of the Lord of the Flies reading club also graced the sessions, along with Amos Wong Shi Yi, the student host, who took part in a game and won a book prize for the team he was with.

        The Senior 1 participants were later asked to evaluate their seniors’ performance via a feedback form (see below), to which many affirmed their seniors’ efforts.

        After seeing the ratings they received,  the two Senior 2 classes wrote a personal reflection on the Gallery Walk activity. Some lamented their tech glitches and failure in preparing backup, while others were proud of how they spoke in English in front of an audience.

        By the end of this project-based learning experience, students not only attained a thorough understanding of Lord of the Flies, but also enhanced their language skills, critical thinking abilities, and developed a deeper appreciation for literature, which truly embodied the purpose of project-based learning.

Students’ Takeaway:

Ding Xuan Kai（S3SK）

        Participating in the making of our project is interesting. I honestly didn’t enjoy the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ very much when I first read it. However, after having a discussion with my group members, I realised the story is very unique and interesting. The plot shows the cruel side of human nature which makes me think deeper about the current society. I am very grateful to Ms Nai, who guided us and encouraged us throughout the entire project. I would also like to thank my group members who contributed tremendously in this project with their extraordinary creativity. For me, this project was a fun experience learning English. 

Ong Xiao Ming（S3SY）

        Even though this project was done a long time ago, I clearly remember how difficult it was to read the book because of the complex language used in the novel. Understanding the story took a lot of effort. Although I didn’t contribute much in decorating the poster, I helped by researching, organising and writing the information needed for the presentation. In the end, our poster turned out great, and we were very happy to receive a lot of positive feedback last year.

Elvin Goh（S3ACI）

        It’s been a long time since we did this project. Last year, Ms Nai had us deeply explore the content of “Lord of the Flies”. We even participated in the reading club to understand more about the story. She encouraged us to use our creativity to create our own unique storyboard based on what we understood about the story. Each of us took up different roles in this project. I was the illustrator and spent three days completing all the designing and artwork. When we completed the storyboard, we felt a great sense of achievement, even though it took a lot of effort and time. Looking back, the story left me with a profound impression of the darkness of human nature. I also remember one participant from the reading club sharing  some thoughts on ancient Chinese philosophies. I feel that most of the characters in the story align with Mencius’ idea of “Shang Xian” (esteeming the virtuous and capable as leaders) and Mozi’s “Fei Gong” (opposing aggression and conflict). What seems like an ordinary story carries extraordinary meaning!

Pang Yee Shuen（S3ACJ）

       It’s actually a very unique memory for me, because I had never dived into a book so deeply ever since the age of 10. This book made me realise the ugly side of human nature. The language used in the book is a little bit challenging which made it difficult to understand, but doing this project helped a lot. Personally, I gained things that I do not normally find in any other books. Through the project, I have learnt values like cooperation, friendship, and the importance of communication. Thank you Ms Nai for the opportunity and my group members for the patience and help they gave.

Soo Si Xuan（S3ACC）

        This activity would stand out as one of the most engaging and interactive events from my secondary school years. I remember diligently preparing for the presentation just to make sure I could effectively communicate with my fellow peers in English. I’m deeply grateful for my exceptional team members and the continuous encouragement from our teacher. Overall, this experience holds significant meaning for me.

Teacher’s  Reflection:

Ms Nai Sheah Qin（English Teacher, Senior 1 and 2）

        The project-based learning activity my two Senior 2 classes undertook last year was challenging but (hopefully) meaningful for them. I had aimed to make the tasks authentic by involving their juniors as the audience. I also shared the poster presentation idea my colleagues and I developed for the Poster Exhibition at the Chinese Independent Secondary School (CISS) Sharing, hoping to engage our audience more dynamically. Additionally, I encouraged the students to design quizzes or games to make their content fun and engaging. All these efforts were to prepare them for university and work, especially the latter, where they will need to face and interact with people they don’t know. I’m glad they gained a thing or two from the experience.

《兴华月报》2024年7月号
https://www.hinhua.edu.my/ebook/2407hinhuamonthly/mobile/index.html