In the Mind's Eye: Truth Versus Perception, ELA Lessons for Gifted and Advanced Learners in Grades 6-8

In the Mind's Eye: Truth Versus Perception invites students on a philosophical exploration of the relationship between truth and perception. Developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth, this unit applies concepts from Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" to help students discover how reality is presented and interpreted in fiction, nonfiction, art, and media. Students engage in activities such as Socratic seminars, literary analyses, skits, art, and creative writing to understand differing perceptions of reality. The unit features art from MC Escher and Vincent Van Gogh, short stories from Guy de Maupassant and Shirley Jackson, longer texts by Daniel Keyes and Ray Bradbury, and informational texts related to sociology, Nazi propaganda, and Christopher Columbus. Aligned to Common Core standards for ELA, this unit encourages students to translate learning to real-life contexts and problems by exploring themes of disillusionment, social deception, and the power of perception.