Plan of Attack for the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Plan of attack for „The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency“
by Alexander McCall Smith
Penguin Readers Pre-Intermediate
in 10 lessons
Lesson 1:
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) Students will know main vocabulary and ingredients for a detective story
2) Students will know heroine / Let them talk about detectives / What detectives do you know?
Which is your favourite? Why? What sort of problems do they solve? How?
Where do they live? Any woman detectives? / Create an unusual detective in an unusual setting (group work)
present to class, vote for best idea
teacher introduces heroine,
class reads introduction together / Introduction / Find out more about the setting: Botswana.
Refer to library, maybe a collection of links (chance to earn extra credit for 5 minute presentation)
Lesson 2:
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) students will be familiar with setting
2) students have read
and discussed chapter 1
3) students will know more about the role of women in African Society / Show pictures of Botswana. Play African Music with it.
Students tell class, what they have found out about the country / Collects info on board, more input about country
Discuss role of women in Africa
Compare to CH / Class reads first half of first mystery together
students are detectives: How would they solve the problems? Group or partner work
present to class
finish reading chapter 1 / Page 1-4, line 10
page 4-5 / Read chapter 2,
page 5-8
Lesson 3:
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) Students can make a portrait of heroine
2) students can make up a different life for heroine / Students collect on board what they know so far about heroine / Collects vocab on board
What could she do to get customers? / Discuss role of education and initiative for life of heroine
What would her life be like, if she hadn't worked that hard?
Group work, present ideas to class
read chapter 3, page 9 -12 / Page 5-8 / finish chapter 3, read chapter 4, page 17
Lesson 4
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) students know about some African superstitions
2) students can playact spontaneously in setting of story
3) students become aware of situation of some African girls / Talk about superstition. What do students do/use in order to be lucky? / Talk about African witch doctors and the conflict between tradition and modern life.
Introduce mystery of the boyfriend
talk about differences in adolescent life CH/Botswana / What evidence for this conflict can students find in what they have read so far?
Role play: detective, girl, father. Improvise. Can step out and name another student to step in
read chapter together / Page 17-23 / Read 23-27
Lesson 5
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) students have understood structure of story
2) can argue pro and con
3) can write a police report / Students write personal story of heroine on board. / Outlines structure of story so far. Personal story around mysteries.
Why does the author build his story like that?
What is the most important story? / partner work: should she marry him or not? Try to convince your partner with your arguments
collect outcome
Write Billy Pilani's police report / 23-27 / Read 27-33 (missing finger)
find out about
AIDS in Africa
(teacher gives links) chance to earn extra credit
Lesson 6
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) know about AIDS and its consequences for life in Africa / Students present findings
Short film/text about AIDS / What are the consequences for families?
Is money a problem? Why?
When do people make insurance claims?
Why does heroine let the man off? / Play-act in pairs: Precious Ramotswe meets Hector Lepodise again, they talk about case. How does he feel now?
Start reading Chapter 8 (the bone) in class / 27-33 / Read 33-40 (the bone)
Lesson 7
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) will have argued pro and con about a moral dilemma
2) Can describe a character and its influence
3) become aware of stereotypes / Collect info and feelings concerning witchdoctor
medicine / Telling lies
Why are people afraid of Mr. Gotso?
„Sometimes men are too proud to listen.“ Why does she say that and why is she clever?
Appearance and reality / Discuss: Is ist ever acceptable to tell a lie? Give examples and consequences
Individual: Describe Mr. Gotso
write 2 short (invented) portraits: of a stereotypical African man/woman and of an individual African man/woman / 33-40 / Read chapter 9,
the careless doctor, page
40-44
Lesson 8
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) will have presented their written portraits
2) can identify with characters and retell story / Read portraits, best one will win a prize.
Emphasize intonation and lively presentation / In the last chapter she will visit witch doctor. What will she learn? What do you think, happens? / Vote
Role play: Billy Pilani asks Mma Ramotswe about the 2 doctors. She tells him story. What is he going to do? / Read chapter 10, 44-49
research on Basarwa, possibility for extra credit, if short presentation
Lesson 9
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) know more about setting / Short film input on Basarwa (eg The gods must be crazy) / Minorities in Botswana and elsewhere
Talk about ending. Is it good? Why, why not? / What other minorities do they know? Discuss their problems.
You are the teacher. Write a letter to Mma Ramotswe and thank her for finding your son. Present to class / 44-49 / Write a different ending
Lesson 10
AIM / START / QUESTIONS/TEACHER INPUT / ACTIVITIES S / CONTENT / HOME-WORK
1) can summarise info and reflect on what they have learnt
2) have heard that one should view all information as critical
3) have formed an opinion on book and can give reasons for it / Read out endings, best one wins a prize
What have you learnt about Botswana and the way of life?
Can you take the information from the book for granted? (portrayal of Basarwa!) / Collect on Board
Which case did you find the most interesting?
Take away on overhead:
„There was so much suffering in Africa. Sometimes you just wanted to walk away. 'But you just can't do that', she thought, 'you just can't do that'.“ / vote
Group work: think of a new case for Mma Ramotswe. Other group has to solve mystery.
anonymous: Did you like the book? Why/why not? What will stay in your mind after reading that book? Info, characters, incidents, words.
Collect on board / Whole book
Currently the novel is being made into a movie. Possible to watch sequence after finishing book.