Lesson
1
:
Learning Fairness from Literature
Grade
Grade 7
UNIT
7
•
Fairness
In Unit 7, Lesson 1, “Learning Fairness from Literature,” students will learn examples of fairness from a contemporary work of young adult literature, Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah. Students will develop their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills by answering questions about the text. Additionally, students will develop their academic dialogue skills by participating in class discussions.
SUGGESTED TIME:
- 1 class period to introduce the text; 1 class period to discuss the text; if desired, additional class periods can be devoted to in-class silent reading of the text
- The book, Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah, is 52 chapters and 193 pages.
- The suggested reading schedule is 4 chapters per day, either as in-class reading time or for homework (each chapter is short, between 2 and 4 pages).
- With this schedule, students will complete the book in 13 in-class reading sessions or 13 homework sessions.
- Students can complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book.
- Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Read a contemporary work of young adult literature
- Identify and analyze the book’s central ideas
- Identify and analyze the book’s genre, point of view, characters, setting, and plot
- Write answers to questions about the book, demonstrating an understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Engage effectively in collaborative discussions about the book
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Book: Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah
- Prohuman Grade 7 Unit 7 Worksheet 1: Learning Fairness from Literature
VOCABULARY:
Fairness: I treat everyone the same. If someone has been left out, I bring them in.
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Step 1:
- Ask students what fairness means.
- Give the definition of fairness: I treat everyone the same. If someone has been left out, I bring them in.
Step 2:
- Explain that we will be reading a contemporary work of fiction, Ajay and the Mumbai Sun by Varsha Shah.
- Explain that book is a good example of an allegory about fairness.
- Ask students to define allegory as a class.
- Provide students with this definition:
- Allegory: A story, play, poem, picture, or other work in which the characters and events represent particular qualities or ideas that relate to morals, religion, or politics.
Step 3:
- Have students complete the book, either through multiple in-class silent reading sessions, or as homework.
- Students should complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book.
Step 4:
- Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.
GRADE 7 UNIT 7 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING FAIRNESS FROM LITERATURE
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AS YOU READ by Varsha Shah:
- Who are the main characters in this story and what is the dream of each one?
- How does Ajay demonstrate a positive attitude, effort, and grit?
- What was the impact of stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice in this story?
- Why do friends have a responsibility to speak up or take action to prevent or stop others from engaging in disrespectful, dangerous, harmful, or illegal conduct?
- In Chapter 20, what is the quote about justice that Niresh shows Ajay? What is the dilemma about fairness that Ajay finds himself in with the factory?
- In Chapter 32, what is the disagreement Ajay and Jai have about the nature of evil?
- In this novel, why did some people lie and not care about others?
- Discuss at least two aspects of this book that show it is an allegory.
- In Chapter 47, what does Ajay conclude about Jai’s belief that “people are worth more than the worst thing they have done”? What role does this belief play in forgiveness?
- In what ways is there fairness at the end of this story?
- How can you show fairness to others?
- Why is it important to do the right thing, even when no one is looking?
- Write about a time when you did the right thing, even when no one was looking.
Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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