$28
Of Mice and Men Unit Plan
Awesome Of Mice and Men unit plan bundle with over 200 pages worth of lessons and activities (resources for every chapter)! Includes a bonus Of Mice and Men unit test with answer key!
There are 11 activities plus a bonus included in this bundle:
1. Introduction Research Project
2. Chapter 1: Character Analysis Activity
3. Chapter 1: Mimic Steinbeck's Writing Style Activity
4. Chapter 2: Study Guide and Conflict Analysis
5. Chapter 3: American Dream Analysis
6. Chapter 3: Character Comparison Activity
7. Chapter 4: Analysis of Discrimination present in the novel
8. Chapter 5: Analysis of Curley's Wife
9. Chapter 6: Analysis of Foreshadowing present in the novel
10. Character Relationship Analysis and activity
11. Theme Analysis Activity
12. Bonus Unit Test
RESOURCE BREAKDOWN:
Print and digital versions available!
- PDF
- Google™ Slides
Introduction to the Novel
Students work collaboratively or independently to create and present a brochure based on a research topic! This project is completely editable and a great way to help students learn background information based on the topics below:
- African Americans in the 1930s
- Migrant Workers in the 1930s
- The American Dream
- The Great Depression
- Life for Women in the 1930s
- Mental Illness in the 1930s
Includes:
- Teacher Directions - PowerPoint with six pages of teacher directions.
- Project Directions - detailed instructions, list of research topics and requirements of everything that needs to be included in the brochure.
- Cornell Notes Template - Provided for students to use to record any information they find when they research their topic.
- Group Activity Option - If you choose to make this a group activity instead of an individual one, instructions are included!
- Presentation guidelines - explaining in detail how students are expected to present their brochure.
- Group Member Evaluation - Students evaluate their performance of themselves and their peers
- Rubric
Chapter 1: Character Analysis Activity
Focuses on the characterization of George and Lennie. This can be used for chapter 1 or as a stand alone lesson!
Students will:
- Learn the difference between indirect and direct characterization and identify examples in the novel.
- Identify character traits revealed about George and Lennie and explain what they suggest about each character.
- Analyze interactions between George and Lennie and what it suggests about their relationship.
Includes:
- Seven pages of Teacher Directions
- Info sheet - Defines characterization and the two types (indirect and direct).
- Character Traits Graphic Organizer focusing on the characterization of George & Lennie based on physical appearance. Optional poster version available.
- Indirect and Direct Characterization Chart focusing on finding examples of the actions, behaviors and speech of both George and Lennie and explaining what it reveals about their character. Optional group assignment version included.
- Character Relationships Chart - Students analyze the interactions between George and Lennie to see what it reveals about their relationship.
- Assessment - 2 versions included
- Two Answer Keys
Chapter 1: Mimic Steinbeck's Writing Style Activity
Students analyze Steinbeck's use of imagery and create their own description of a nature scene mimicking Steinbeck's writing style. Great for figurative language practice, teaching imagery and the five senses, and for writing activities!
Students will:
- Analyze the opening of chapter 1 (the nature scene).
- Learn the definition of imagery and its relation to the 5 senses.
- Identify examples of imagery and which of the 5 senses are being appealed to.
- Analyze Steinbeck's writing style through his use of imagery.
- Analyze a nature scene so that students can create their own description of it using Steinbeck's writing style/incorporating imagery.
Includes:
- Teacher Directions
- Warm-Up - Students assess their background knowledge on imagery.
- Passage Analysis- Students analyze the opening of chapter 1 (nature description) identifying examples of imagery and how Steinbeck uses imagery to establish time (season/time of day) and place (setting).
- Nature Scene Analysis- A picture of a nature scene is provided for students to analyze. Students create examples of imagery describing the image.
- Mimic Steinbeck's Writing Style Worksheet- Students write a description of the image using Steinbeck's writing style (specifically focusing on his use of imagery to describe nature and to create a sense of time and place).
- Rubric- Details what the students are supposed to include in their description of the nature scene.
Chapter 2: Study Guide and Conflict Analysis
Helps students analyze conflicts to predict whether or not George and Lennie's stay at the ranch will be a positive or negative experience or both. To prepare students for this, the included study guide has students answer critical thinking questions focusing on how Steinbeck portrays major characters introduced in chapter 2.
Students will:
- Answer a series of questions related events in chapter 2 to ensure they understand the text.
- Identify conflicts that are present in chapter 2
- Identify the characters these conflicts are with and what caused the problem.
- Use this to infer what they believe George and Lennie's stay at the ranch will be like for the rest of the novel.
Includes:
- Study Guide - focusing on the most important events of chapter 2 as well as how Steinbeck characterizes major characters introduced in chapter 2
- Conflicts Activity- Identify examples of conflicts presented in chapter two between the specific characters.
- Assessment- focusing on whether or not students believe George and Lennie will have a positive or negative experience at the ranch based on chapter 2 events
- Two Answer Keys
Chapter 3: American Dream Analysis
Students analyze George and Lennie's American Dream!
Students will:
- Identify specific details revealed about George and Lennie's American Dream in the book.
- Find specific quotes related to George and Lennie's American Dream.
- Identify specific events from chapter 3 that could possibly hinder George and Lennie from achieving their American Dream.
Includes:
1. American Dream Analysis Activity
- Find textual evidence detailing George and Lennie's American Dream
- Identify events/people that can impact their chances of achieving their American Dream.
- Explain what it means to "Live off the fatta a lan."
2. Answer Key
Chapter 3: Character Comparison Activity
Compare and contrast Candy + his dog and George + Lennie. Also a great activity to help students to start thinking about foreshadowing and context clues in the book!
Includes:
1. Character Comparison Activity
- Identify similarities between:
- Candy's dog and Lennie
- The relationship Candy has with his dog and the relationship between George and Lennie
2. Assess whether or not they believe Carlson was the appropriate person to kill Candy's dog.
3. Connect the text to their lives by considering what they would do if they were in Candy's shoes/ how they handle peer pressure.
4. Answer Key
Chapter 4: Analysis of Discrimination present in the novel
Students focus on the theme topic of discrimination utilizing a theme graphic organizer to analyze how characters are discriminated against in the novel.
Students will:
- Define discrimination
- Identify specific examples of discrimination in the novel.
- Identify specific characters whom are discriminated against in the novel and the type of discrimination they are facing.
- Explain how the examples of discrimination connects with other themes also present in Of Mice and Men.
Includes:
- Theme Info Sheet defining theme topic vs theme statement.
- Theme Activity Chart focusing on how the following characters are discriminated against in the novel (version with and without model included).
- Assessment
- Of Mice and Men Theme List - Optional list of 7 themes is provided
- Answer Key
Chapter 5: Analysis of Curley's Wife
Analyze Curley's Wife through a variety of critical thinking questions focusing on her actions, personality, and how she is treated in the novel. Students are able to use that analysis to then create their own claim statement about how they view Curley's Wife.
Students will:
- Respond to an initial claim about Curley's Wife and if they feel she is a mean and selfish woman.
- Answer critical thinking questions to analyze how Curley's Wife is characterized in the novel.
- Use that analysis to revisit and revise their initial response to the original claim. This allows them to showcase how their view on Curley's Wife has developed after analyzing her character more deeply.
Includes:
- Claim Statement Response- Students respond to a claim statement about Curley's Wife stating whether they agree or disagree with it.
- Character Analysis Sheet- series of questions based on information revealed about Curley's Wife from chapters 1-5.
Students analyze the personality of Curley's Wife, her own actions, as well as how she is treated in the novel.
- Assessment - Using the information from chapter 5 as well as details revealed about Curley's Wife from the rest of the chapters, students create their own claim statement about the type of woman they believe Curley's Wife to be.
- Two Answer Keys
Chapter 6: Analysis of Foreshadowing present in the novel
Students to analyze events and characters that foreshadowed the end of the novel.
Includes:
Foreshadowing Analysis Sheet:
1. Answer questions related to:
- Similarities between how both Lennie and Candy's dog died
- Similarities between Candy and George in relation to how Lennie dies.
2. Complete a chart to identify events that foreshadowed:
- The death of Curley's Wife
- The death of Lennie
- The impossibility of the men achieving their American Dream
3. Answer Key
END OF UNIT RESOURCES
Character Relationship Analysis
Helps students identify internal and external conflicts between characters and its impact on character relationships. This activity is applicable for the entire book and multiple characters!
Includes:
1. Info sheet - Defining internal and external conflict
2. Activity sheet - Chart where students have to identify:
- The character relationship
- The conflict that is impacting their relationship
- The type of conflict it is (internal vs. external)
- Explanation of how the conflict is impacting the relationship
- Evidence to support their findings.
3. Character Relationship Ideas- A list of potential character relationships can focus on.
For example, George and Lennie, Curley's Wife and Crooks, etc.
4. Answer Key
Theme Analysis Activity
Students to analyze six different main idea and supporting details in the novel and create a group one pager to showcase their understanding!
Students will:
- Define theme and learn the difference between a theme topic and a theme statement.
- Analyze how how a theme is developed in the novel through events and characters.
- Identify a lesson/message Steinbeck is repeating throughout the novel.
Includes:
- Theme Info Sheet defining theme topic vs theme statement.
- Theme Analysis Handout - Students are broken into six groups based on the following theme topics: American Dream, Responsibility, Power, Insecurity, Loneliness, Friendship.
- Students have to identify specific evidence showing the theme topic and explain how the evidence relates to the theme.
- Students create a theme statement about what message/lesson Steinbeck tries to reveal through the theme topic.
- Assessment
- Group One Pager for Theme - Optional
A one-pager a single page response allowing students to showcase their understanding of a topic, text, concept, etc.
Students use their theme analysis handout to create a one pager on a poster. Example one pagers are included!
Six student one pager examples are included!
BONUS UNIT TEST!
- Teacher directions on administering and grading unit test
- Unit Test Review sheet that can be given to students
- 4 page Unit Test
- Answer Key
FILE FORMAT
Product Pages: 209
Editable: No
File Type: Zip/PDF