The Cutting of My Long Hair/ Lesson Plan

Subject: English Core
Class: XII
Book: Flamingo
Chapter: The Cutting of My Long Hair
Period Duration: 50 minutes
Teacher: [Your Name]
Date: [Date]

1. General Objectives

To develop learners’ understanding and appreciation of autobiographical narratives.
To sensitize students about cultural identity and racial discrimination.
To encourage critical thinking and discussion on oppression and assimilation.

2. Specific Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Identify the central idea and theme of the story.
Explain the author’s emotions and experiences.
Analyze the narrative style and tone.
Relate the events to the larger issue of cultural erosion.
Express their own viewpoints on cultural identity through discussion and writing.

3. Teaching-Learning Materials (TLM)

Textbook Flamingo
Whiteboard and markers
Short video/clip or images depicting Native American culture (optional)
PPT slides summarizing key points
Worksheet for comprehension questions

4. Previous Knowledge Required

Students know what an autobiography is.
They are aware of colonial history and cultural assimilation.
They can relate to concepts of cultural identity.

5. Teaching Methodology

Explanation & Reading Aloud
Discussion & Q/A
Group Activity
Critical Analysis
Individual Writing

6. Teaching Process

Steps	Teacher’s Activity	Student’s Activity
Introduction (5 min)	Begin with a question: “What does your hair mean to you? Is it just hair?” Introduce Zitkala-Sa and her background.	Respond, share opinions, listen actively.
Presentation (20 min)	Read the passage aloud, explain difficult words, highlight cultural aspects. Use PPT/images if available.	Listen, annotate, ask doubts.
Discussion (10 min)	Discuss key themes: cultural suppression, resistance, identity. Pose questions: Why did Zitkala-Sa resist?	Participate, give answers, share views.
Activity (10 min)	In pairs, students identify lines that show oppression and resistance.	Work in pairs, find lines, discuss.
Conclusion (5 min)	Recap main points. Connect the theme with modern relevance (cultural identity, minority rights).	Summarize, note key points.

7. Board Work

Title: The Cutting of My Long Hair
Keywords: Autobiography, Cultural Identity, Assimilation, Resistance
Themes: Loss of Identity, Cultural Suppression, Forced Assimilation

8. Learning Outcomes

After the lesson, students will be able to:
✅ Summarize the story in their own words
✅ Explain cultural implications of forced assimilation
✅ Answer textual and inferential questions
✅ Express their views on cultural suppression in written and oral form

9. Homework

Write a short paragraph (150 words) on “Why is cultural identity important?”
Answer NCERT textbook questions for this extract.

10. Assessment Criteria

Skills	Excellent	Good	Needs Improvement
Understanding of Theme	✔️	✔️	✔️
Critical Thinking	✔️	✔️	✔️
Expression & Clarity	✔️	✔️	✔️
Participation	✔️	✔️	✔️

11. Bloom’s Taxonomy

Level	Task
Knowledge	Recall facts from the text
Comprehension	Explain events in their own words
Application	Relate theme to present-day issues
Analysis	Analyze character’s feelings and actions
Synthesis	Formulate own opinion on cultural loss
Evaluation	Critically evaluate forced assimilation

12. Values & Life Skills

Respect for cultural diversity
Empathy towards marginalized communities
Awareness of historical injustices
Confidence in expressing personal identity

Extra Exam Questions

Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words each)

1. Why did Zitkala-Sa feel like an animal driven by a herder?
(Focus: Her feelings of helplessness and loss of freedom)

2. How did the author’s mother warn her about “paleface” people?
(Focus: Cultural fear and mother’s protective nature)

3. What does cutting the long hair symbolize in this story?
(Focus: Loss of cultural identity and forced assimilation)

4. Describe the atmosphere in the dining hall from Zitkala-Sa’s perspective.
(Focus: Strict discipline, fear, unfamiliar customs)

Long Answer Type Questions (120-150 words each)

5. Zitkala-Sa’s resistance was not just about her hair but about her identity. Discuss.
(Students should explain how forced hair cutting represents cultural suppression and how Zitkala-Sa’s act of hiding shows her strong will to resist erasure of her identity.)

6. How does the extract highlight the clash between two cultures?
(Students should analyze the Native American way of life vs. white American schools’ forced imposition of alien customs and rules.)

7. Do you think the narrative is still relevant today? Justify your answer with examples.
(Encourage students to connect this story to modern debates on cultural assimilation, racial equality, or minority rights.)

Value-Based Question

8. What lesson can we learn from Zitkala-Sa’s experience about preserving our cultural roots?
(Students can write about respect for diversity, standing up for one’s rights, and the importance of cultural pride.)

Extract-Based Question

Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

“I crept up the stairs as quietly as I could in my squeaking shoes — my moccasins had been taken from me.”

a) What does the removal of moccasins symbolize?
b) Why did Zitkala-Sa creep up the stairs?
c) How does this line reflect her state of mind?