HICKSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
English Language Arts
Curriculum Resource Guide
Unit of Study:
Number of Lessons:
Social Injustice and The American Dream II
Grade Level:
11
Module Overview: Social Injustice and The American Dream II
Content Understandings: Students will understand how John Steinbeck tries to make readers aware of the various hardships experienced
by migrant workers and the mentally ill. Also, Steinbeck takes a close look at the importance of friendship and what defines a person as a
true friend. Moreover, students will look at the idea of The American Dream through the lens of the poor and outcast members of society
and investigate the reality of The American Dream and how that Dream is viewed today.
Essential Questions: What is The American Dream?
How does Steinbeck address the concept of the American Dream?
What is Steinbeck’s statement on friendship? Loneliness?
What role does mental illness play in the novel Of Mice and Men?
How does setting convey meaning in Of Mice and Men?
Why is foreshadowing important in understanding the themes in Of Mice and Men?
Suggested Works:
LITERARY TEXTS: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
INFORMATIONAL TEXTS: “Beyond the New Deal” by Howard Zinn, “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr., “Mental Illness and Early
Insane Asylum-A Shameful Past” by Diane Gray, John Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech-1962, “Women in the early Twentieth
Century,” “The Migrant Experience,” “Woody Guthrie Biography”
ART, MUSIC, MEDIA & DIGITAL SOURCES: Songs: “Me and My Friends” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, “You’ve got a Friend” by James
Taylor, “Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica, “This Land is Your Land” and “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” by Woody Guthrie, “God
Bless America” by Irving Berlin. Poetry: “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns, “I, Too” by Langton Hughes, Video: Of Mice and Men, PBS
Documentary Riding the Rails, PBS American Masters Woody Guthrie: Ain’t got no Home, Ken Burns Documentary The Dust Bowl.
Instructional Technology: Smart Board for notes, DVD/videos and music, and web searches; Google Earth map of where Of Mice and Men
is set (near the Salinas River and Soledad-both in California
-Facebook Character Profile can be created using Fakebook template at the following web site: http://www.classtools.net/fb/home/page
Focus Standards Selected
from NYS Common Core State
Standards

RL.11-12.1. Cite strong and
thorough textual evidence to
support analysis of what the
text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text,
including determining where
the text leaves matters
uncertain.

RL.11-12.2. Determine two or
more themes or central ideas
of a text and analyze their
development over the course
of the text, including how they
interact and build on one
another to produce a complex
account; provide an objective
summary of the text.

RL.11-12.3. Analyze the
impact of the author’s choices
regarding how to develop and
relate elements of a story or
drama (e.g., where a story is
set, how the action is ordered,
how the characters are
introduced and developed).

RI.11-12.1. Cite strong and
thorough textual evidence to
support analysis of what the
text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text,
Academic Vocabulary
Learning Activities
Of Mice and Men Vocabulary List
handout
-Analyzing George and Lennie’s
relationship and the
relationships of George and
Lennie with the other characters
on the ranch.
-Characterization and
development of George and
Lennie throughout Of Mice and
Men.
Assessments /
Evidence of Learning
-Content exam.
-Critical Lens essay exam.
-Vocabulary quiz.
-Soundtrack project
-Reading log/journal
-Two-three page paper
developing a theme from the
text using outside information to
support ideas.
-Interpreting important
-Various songs to help bring a
passages from the text and
closer understanding of the
drawing connection between
themes and characters in Of
the passages and higher level
Mice and Men.
meanings.
-Research project on migrant
-Close reading of key passages
workers, The Dust Bowl, mental
for higher level meaning, writing illness or any other theme
style and author’s
related to Of Mice and Men.
meaning/message.
-Create a Fakebook page on
characters in the book.
-Paired informational texts and
-Multi-Modal project choosing a
non-fiction articles to help foster key passage from the text.
a deeper understanding in Of
Students will develop a 300
Mice and Men and compare
word typed analysis of the
various points of view on similar passage chosen and teach the
themes.
passage using a multi-modal
source during their
including determining where
the text leaves matters
uncertain.

RI.11-12.2. Determine two or
more central ideas of a text
and analyze their development
over the course of the text,
including how they interact and
build on one another to provide
a complex analysis; provide an
objective summary of the text.

RI.11-12.3. Analyze a complex
set of ideas or sequence of
events and explain how
specific individuals, ideas, or
events interact and develop
over the course of the text.

RI.11-12.4. Determine the
meaning of words and phrases
as they are used in a text,
including figurative,
connotative, and technical
meanings; analyze how an
author uses and refines the
meaning of a key term or terms
over the course of a text (e.g.,
how Madison defines faction in
Federalist No. 10).

RI.11-12.5. Analyze and
evaluate the effectiveness of
the structure an author uses in
his or her exposition or
argument, including whether
the structure makes points
clear, convincing, and
engaging.

RI.11-12.6. Determine an
author’s point of view or
purpose in a text in which the
rhetoric is particularly effective,
analyzing how style and
content contribute to the
power, persuasiveness or
beauty of the text.
-Find examples of various
literary devices, esceially
foreshadowing) within Of Mice
and Men and explain how each
example/literary device conveys
or develops a theme in the text.
-Video Clips from the movie Of
Mice and Men as a companion to
key scenes in the book.
-Read a paired non-fiction
article and have students
explain ideas in the article using
evidence/direct citations from
the article. Students then make
comparisons from the article to
Of Mice and Men using evidence
from both the paired passage
and Of Mice and Men.
- Teach direct and indirect
characterization using an
excerpt from The Cat in the Hat
and Of Mice and Men.
presentations to the class

W.11-12.1. Write arguments to
support claims in an analysis
of substantive topics or texts,
using valid reasoning and
relevant and sufficient
evidence.

W.11-12.2. Write
informative/explanatory texts to
examine and convey complex
ideas, concepts, and
information clearly and
accurately through the
effective selection,
organization, and analysis of
content.

W.11-12.9. Draw evidence
from literary or informational
texts to support analysis,
reflection, and research.

SL.11-12.2. Integrate multiple
sources of information
presented in diverse formats
and media (e.g., visually,
quantitatively, orally) in order
to make informed decisions
and solve problems, evaluating
the credibility and accuracy of
each source and noting any
discrepancies among the data.

SL.11-12.3. Evaluate a
speaker’s point of view,
reasoning, and use of
evidence and rhetoric,
assessing the stance,
premises, links among ideas,
word choice, points of
emphasis, and tone used.

L.11-12.1. Demonstrate
command of the conventions
of standard English grammar
and usage when writing or
speaking.
L.11-12.3. Apply knowledge of
language to understand how
language functions in different

contexts, to make effective
choices for meaning or style,
and to comprehend more fully
when reading or listening
Instructional Supports for English Language Learners / Students with Disabilities:
Graphic Organizers: Free printable graphic organizers can be found at the following web site:
http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscience/graphicorgan.htm
Suggested Materials: Web Sites: a great resources for teaching Of Mice and Men, including lesson plans, handouts, non-fiction passages,
Jeopardy interactive game and so much more. Steinbeck in the Schools: Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose University link:
http://as.sjsu.edu/sits/content.jsp?val=works_of-mice-and-men_lesson-plans
Professional Resources: : http://www.engageny.org/english-language-arts http://www.webenglishteacher.com/
http://www.readwritethink.org