Lesson Plan - Ready, Set, Fail!

Watch a Slideshow

Watch the slideshow to enjoy a digital tour of the Museum of Failure. Afterward, discuss: Which item displayed in the museum did you find most interesting? Why? Why did it fail? 

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• setbacks
• reassurance

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about times they have failed and whether the failure helped them in any way.

1. What might be another good title for the article? Explain. 
Sample response: Another good title for this article might be “Failing Is Good for You!” It sums up the article’s main idea, which is that failing and making mistakes is an important part of achieving goals.
^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea)}

2. Why did Samuel West include the Nintendo Power Glove in his Museum of Failure? Give evidence from the text to support your response. 
Samuel West included the Power Glove in his museum because the glove is an example of a failed product that inspired a successful one. The glove let players use their hands to move characters on screens. But as the article states, “. . . the Power Glove was a flop.” The glove led to the creation of the Wii, however.
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Train Your Brain”? 
The purpose of this sidebar is to help students stay positive when dealing with failure. The sidebar suggests ways of changing your thinking.
^{(RI.3.5 Text Features)}

Featured Skill: Explanatory Writing

Continue your exploration of the value of failure with the skill builder “Read and Reflect.” Have students respond to the quote and apply it to their own lives.

^{(W.3.2 Explanatory Writing)}