Is the American Dream attainable in Of Mice and Men
Title of Lesson: Is the American Dream attainable in Of
Mice and Men?
Author(s): Carol J. Carlson
Subject Area(s): English 11
Date: Spring 2009
Timeframe of Lesson: 4 days
School District: La Crosse, WI
Central High School
Grade Level(s)/Course: Junior (team taught with SPED)
Subject Specific:
State Standards
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dp
i/standards/
A.12.1 Use effective reading strategies to achieve their purposes in reading.
A.12.2 Read, interpret, and critically analyze literature.
A.12.3 Read and discuss literary and nonliterary texts in order to understand human
experience.
A.12.4 Students will read to acquire information.
B.12.1 Create or produce writing to communicate with different audiences for a
variety of purposes.
B.12.2 Plan, revise, edit, and publish clear and effective writing.
C.8.3 Participate effectively in discussion.
E.12.1 Use computers to acquire, organize, analyze, and communicate information.
E.12.2 Make informed judgments about media and products.
E.12.3 Create media products appropriate to audience and purpose.
E.12.4 Demonstrate a working knowledge of media production and distribution.
E.12.5 Analyze and edit media work as appropriate to audience and purpose.
Technology Specific: http://dpi.wi.gov/imt/itlstfst.html
A.12.3 Use a computer and productivity software to organize and create information
A.12.5 Use media and technology to create and present information
B.12.5 Record and organize information
C.12.2 Appreciate and derive meaning from literature and
other creative expressions of information
C.12.4 Demonstrate self-motivation and increasing
responsibility for their learning
Stated Objective(s)
Students will understand a basic theme of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men by exploring
the choices that characters made during the course of the novel. They will discover
that Steinbeck believed that the American Dream was unattainable by average workers
during the Great Depression.
Students will learn how to use hyperlinked buttons on a PowerPoint. Students will use
this new skill to illustrate various choices made by characters in the novel and the
consequences of those choices.
Procedures for Lesson
Students will have read the novel, discussed it in class, and watched the movie of the
novel. Students will have fully understood the plot and character development
Steinbeck uses. The multiple views and discussion of the novel are critical for these
students who struggle with their reading and comprehension skills.
Students have also compiled various scenes throughout the movie that required the
characters to choose how they will react to the scene.
Day 1: Describe the project: Students will create 3 scenarios via hyperlinked
PowerPoint presentation and explore how the choices characters made relate to theme.
Model the process of creating hyperlinked buttons on a PowerPoint. The assumption
is made that students already know how to create a basic PowerPoint presentation.
Show students the sample presentation entitled “Aunt Clara’s Request.” Demonstrate
the concept thoroughly in terms of the choices that both George and Lennie make
regarding traveling together.
Distribute the handouts “Creating Hyperlinked Buttons” (Thanks, Adam) and
“Organizing Your Slides.” Demonstrate how students can better organize their
presentations by numbering the slides before they create them.
Day 2: Students will work on organizing their thoughts on paper. When they have
their choices clearly mapped out on the graphic organizer, they will have their work
checked with either of the two teachers in the room (me or my team teacher).
Once their work is checked by either of us, they will travel to the computer lab and
begin the process of creating their scenarios and choice buttons.
Day 3: After finishing their three slides, students will print them for me to look at and
to organize into a chronological pattern.
Day 4: When all students have finished their slides, we will share them with the large
group to see the various choices that characters could have made throughout.
This will lead to a discussion about whether or not the choices made by the characters
could have/would have made a difference in the outcome. Would George and Lennie
achieved the dream of having a house and garden of their own? Or would they have
continued down the path of drifting about, looking for work, and never having a true
home? Would Lennie have survived or would he have died regardless of what
happened?
Assessment or Evaluation
Students will be assessed in three ways: 1) The contents of their graphic organizer,
2) their efforts in creating effective and insightful hyperlinked slides, and 3) their
reflection statements.
Enrichment
Students will be offered the opportunity to create more than three slides if they choose
for enrichment. They can also assist other students (as peer tutor).
Materials
Handouts, sample PowerPoint presentation, grading rubric
Technology Resources: URLs, Software, # of Computers, Printers, etc…
LCD Projector for demonstration and presentation, access to computer lab that has
PowerPoint installed. (Room 207 or Resource Center)
Other Resources: copies of the novel Of Mice and Men