Klara and the Sun: Heart, Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI

Students will explore what it means to be human by analyzing themes about loneliness, love, faith, and mortality in Klara and the Sun.

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ELA

Unit 2

12th Grade

Unit Summary


The core text Klara and the Sun fits within the year-long focus On Being Human, as Ishiguro explores elements of the human condition such as loneliness, love, faith, hope, and mortality through the perspective of Klara, an "Artificial Friend." As a highly observant robot, Klara provides deep insight into the complexity of human emotions and relationships. She also illustrates the power of faith in giving people hope during dire times. Through the novel's futuristic setting, Ishiguro has readers grapple with the benefits and harms of technological advancement on relationships, education, and the environment. Klara and the Sun, therefore, invites students to make connections to real-life, contemporary issues related to technology, such as AI, educational disparities, cloning, and electronic waste. 

Prior to reading the novel, students will activate prior knowledge about AI, as well as watch a CBS Reports video to build background knowledge about the dangers and benefits of AI through different speakers' perspectives. They will also read excerpts from Frankenstein to analyze how Mary Shelley's novel remains a cautionary tale for scientists and tech innovators. While reading Klara and the Sun, students will  analyze how Ishiguro uses narration, diction, characterization, and structure to develop themes about the human condition. Additionally, they will engage with supplemental nonfiction articles about issues relevant to the novel, and they will generate their own questions that the novel and supplemental texts spark for them. Ultimately, for the final performance task, students will perform research on one of their self-generated questions and write an explanatory research essay. 

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Texts and Materials


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Core Materials

Supporting Materials

Assessment


These assessments accompany Unit 2 and should be given on the days suggested in the Lesson Map. Additionally, there are formative and creative assessments integrated into the unit to prepare students for the Performance Task.

Socratic Seminar

The Socratic Seminar assesses students on their ability to push themselves and their peers to think critically and participate meaningfully in conversation by collecting and evaluating evidence, actively listening, and responding thoughtfully. Socratic Seminar assessments may occur mid-unit as a way to synthesize the ideas of the text/unit to that point or summative, taking place at the end of a unit.

Performance Task

The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to show the skills and content they have learned.

Key Knowledge


Intellectual Prep

Essential Questions

  • To what extent can love be created artificially?
  • What are the benefits of technological progress? What are the costs?
  • What is the role of faith in the human condition?

Vocabulary

Text-based

arduousdisparitiesengrossedfathomimpedeimplicationjeopardizekeenmarginalizedqualmreprimand

Literary Terms

foreshadowingfoilliterary point of viewmoodscience fictionsymboltheme

To see all the vocabulary for Unit 2 , view our 12th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.

Lesson Map


Common Core Standards


Core Standards

RI.11-12.2
RI.11-12.7
RL.11-12.2
RL.11-12.3
RL.11-12.4
RL.11-12.5
RL.11-12.6
SL.11-12.1.a
SL.11-12.1.b
SL.11-12.1.c
SL.11-12.1.d
SL.11-12.4
W.11-12.1.a
W.11-12.2
W.11-12.2.a
W.11-12.2.b
W.11-12.2.c
W.11-12.2.e
W.11-12.2.f
W.11-12.5
W.11-12.7
W.11-12.8

Supporting Standards

L.11-12.1
L.11-12.3
L.11-12.5
L.11-12.6
RI.11-12.1
RI.11-12.2
RI.11-12.4
RI.11-12.6
RI.11-12.10
RL.11-12.1
RL.11-12.2
RL.11-12.3
RL.11-12.4
RL.11-12.5
RL.11-12.6
RL.11-12.7
SL.11-12.1
SL.11-12.1.b
SL.11-12.6
W.11-12.1.a
W.11-12.4
W.11-12.5
W.11-12.6
W.11-12.8
W.11-12.9
W.11-12.10

Read Next

Klara and the Sun: Heart, Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI
Lesson 1
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