Activity 1: Have students read Of Mice and Men. Every two chapters have students determine one character they find interesting and create a character journal that includes Steinbeck's description of the character and a quote from the character that captures his or her personality.
Post-Reading Exercise
After reading the book and watching the movie, engage the students in a lesson about conflict.
1. have students write in their journals about what they would do if they were in George's shoes
2. discuss the types of conflict (man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. self, man vs. society) and provide a handout with these defined.
3. create a handout with a variety of scenarios. Have students read the scenarios and highlight each a color to coordinate with a certain type of conflict.
4. discuss student responses and continue into how we handle our conflicts and the extremes we sometimes have to go to.
5. students should then be instructed to write a letter to a Salinas judge either agreeing or disagreeing with George's decision. They should assume that George is convicted of murder. They need to use specific evidence from the book to support their opinion.
Write a book review
Students will write an online book review (persuasive essay). They will begin by looking at online book reviews. The teacher must locate reviews appropriate for students, using sources such as online magazines, newspapers, or bookstores. Then, students will read about how to write book reviews, and complete a draft of their book review for editing. They will structure their review logically, support assertions, clarify and defend positions with precise and relevant evidence--including expert opinions--and address readers' expectations.
Procedure: The students will be given three statements. The statements will be written on the board at the beginning of class. Under each statement I will write brief, one or two word informational details gleaned from the students. The format will consist of a teacher led class discussion.
The three statements are:
George did Lenny a favor by shooting him,
Slim was George and Lenny’s only true friend, and,
the giant rabbit represents George’s true feelings towards Lenny.
Students will use the notes on the board, as well as their own ideas to formulate arguments for or against said statements. These notes will be used to write a paper of at least 2 pages. Students will choose one of the three statements to explore before leaving class. The next class students will bring a rough draft to class. We will then conduct an abridged read around where students will form small groups and trade papers. Students will discuss, and write on the margins of their peer’s papers. The students will then use these notes to fashion a paper to submit to the teacher. Papers will be submitted with notes from peers and notes taken form class discussion.