READ and RESPOND TO A CLASSIC NOVEL
Animal Farm by George Orwell (1903 – 1950)
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“As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.” George Orwell
“Big Brother is watching you.” (from the novel 1984) George Orwell
“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” George Orwell
More quotations at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_orwell.html
We are learning about how a writer can use story to express his insight into major
political and social events of his time.
INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETE THE 4 ‘MUST-Dos’ on the grid first, as you read the novel.
Write all answers into your exercise book. Then select ONE presentation task.
1.
Background research: find out which of the following six statements are TRUE and which are FALSE.
Note down the CORRECT information for those you think are False.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Orwell was shot and killed while he was fighting in the Spanish Civil War.
Orwell’s real name was Eric Blair.
Animal Farm, published in 1945, was Orwell’s first novel.
The television reality series ‘Big Brother’ derives its central premise from Orwell’s 1949 novel Nineteen EightFour.
Orwell was a staunch supporter of communism.
Orwell also wrote a number of critically acclaimed essays.
e.
f.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Learning Support: find TWO useful Internet study guides for Year 9 students for this novel. List the URLs and state WHY each web site provides useful
information.
Literacy Task sheet: 55 points
Plot Quiz: 25 questions Ask for a printout OR complete and check online at: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/quiz.html
Compare a film version to the novel. (We will view the film AFTER the presentation tasks.)
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PRESENTATION DAY = …………………………………………..
Animal Farm Reading Task Grid
Bloom'sThinking
Skills/ Gardner's
Multiple Intelligences
KNOWLEDGE
COMPREHENSION
5 MUST-Dos + 1 Creativity Presentation task
APPLICATION
ANALYSIS
EVALUATION
SYNTHESIS
Work alone or with a partner or small group.
Choose ONE of the following presentation tasks
OR design your own task.
Write and perform a song or rap that expresses a
main character’s thoughts.
MUSICAL/ RHYTHMIC
OR
Find and play a song or piece of music that represents
a key idea or character. Explain your choice.
INTRAPERSONAL
Write and read out diary entries for one of the main
characters.
OR
Explain why you would take this novel as one of your
TOP 5 books on a long journey to the moon.
BODILY/
KINAESTHETIC/
Create a freeze frame for EACH chapter of the book
and invent a headline to go with each tableau.
OR
VERBAL/ LINGUISTIC
1. T/F research
task
3. Literacy Task sheet
4. Plot Quiz: 25
questions
VISUAL/ SPATIAL
INTERPERSONAL
2. Find & evaluate
two online study guides
5.Compare film to novel.
Prepare and run a trial of Napoleon for crimes
against Animalism. Present both prosecution and
defence. The class is the jury.
OR
Script and present a 2 minute infomercial to sell
holidays on Animal Farm.
Write a one page (@200 words) alternative ending to
the novel, writing in Orwell’s style. Read it to the
class.
OR
Create a PowerPoint of no more than 6 slides that
explains the historical parallels in the book to the
Russian Revolution/ Stalin/ Hitler etc.
Find 3 famous paintings that to you represent
important ideas in the novel. Create a PowerPoint to
show the pictures. Explain your choices.
Script and act out a television interview with one or
more main characters.
OR
LOGICAL MATHEMATICAL
Script and act out a television commercial to promote
the book.
Create a large Venn diagram poster to show the
differences between the Animal Farm society and life
in New Zealand, a democratic society. Explain your
diagram.