of Mice
and Men
Of Mice and Men (1937) is typically taught in middle school or high school and is one of Steinbeck's most acclaimed and beloved works. It is a moving story of thwarted dreams, friendship, and sacrifice that chronicles four days in the lives of migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small. The novel paints a vivid picture of farm life in the area during the Great Depression. Steinbeck's themes include social injustice, racial injustice, and the power of friendship.
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This guide includes a comprehensive list of literary terms, their definitions, and examples of their usage as found in the novel.
Short answer questions test student understanding and reading comprehension for Of Mice and Men.
Challenge students to create and act out their own skits that demonstrate the differences between plot and theme.
Provides a list of slang terms as well as an interactive, student driven, "word wall" to help students understand the new words encountered in their readings.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and those of their classmates.
Introduction to lingering racist attitudes in the United States since the Civil War, especially relating to the treatment of Crooks.
Why did so many people uproot their lives and head to California and the West? Use first hand accounts from the Library of Congress.
Understanding ranch life in the 1920s/1930s and the migrant ranch experience from that period, and today, are essential for understanding the novel.
Students will see, hear, and read about life riding the rails and looking for work in the 1930s.
Students will reflect upon the meaning of the “American Dream,” what it meant during the 1930s, to George and Lennie, and to themselves.
Help students to understand characters and their motivations through the use of a graphic organizer.
An identity chart is a graphic tool meant to help students understand the motivations and factors that have shaped characters.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students to gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
Breakdown major events, themes, and discussion topics. This is a rich source of information to help frame an entire unit plan for Of Mice and Men.
An in-depth, section by section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.
Use these essay questions for writing prompts, journal assignments, assessments, or discussion starters.
Help students distinguish between literal and figurative concepts and track the use and meaning of symbols throughout Of Mice and Men.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from Of Mice and Men.
Students work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in Of Mice and Men.
Provide additional structure and guidance to that found in “Mining for Examples.” Students create their own study guide for the novel.
Help develop students’ critical analysis abilities. The assignment can be modified per grade level/ability, and is a perfect introduction to scholarly papers.
Spontaneous poetry is a creative and fun activity during any time of the year, but teachers can apply this specifically to Of Mice and Men.
Students can graphically “speak” about Of Mice and Men by creating brochures, posters, and other illustrations about the novel.
Students choose scenes from the novel to adapt into a short, dramatic reproduction.
An interactive PowerPoint game modeled on the popular quiz show. A fun way to review.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
Prepare students for the controversial issues they will encounter in the classroom while reading Of Mice and Men.
Introduce students to John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, its characters, the setting, and the contextual background, including the Great Depression.
Introduction to lingering racist attitudes in the United States since the Civil War, especially relating to the treatment of Crooks.
Expand students’ analytical skills and to give them a greater understanding of life during the Great Depression.
Why did so many people uproot their lives and head to California and the West? Use first hand accounts from the Library of Congress.
Understanding ranch life in the 1920s/1930s and the migrant ranch experience from that period, and today, are essential for understanding the novel.
Challenge students to create and act out their own skits that demonstrate the differences between plot and theme.
Students will see, hear, and read about life riding the rails and looking for work in the 1930s.
Breakdown major events, themes, and discussion topics. This is a rich source of information to help frame an entire unit plan for Of Mice and Men.
This guide includes a comprehensive list of literary terms, their definitions, and examples of their usage as found in the novel.
An in-depth, section by section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.
Help students to understand characters and their motivations through the use of a graphic organizer.
An identity chart is a graphic tool meant to help students understand the motivations and factors that have shaped characters.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students to gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
Students work together to create internal monologues for the characters, challenging students to consider issues of race and gender in the 1930s.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from Of Mice and Men.
Students are challenged to use what they have learned about the characters to script and perform an interview with the character.
Provides a list of slang terms as well as an interactive, student driven, "word wall" to help students understand the new words encountered in their readings.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and those of their classmates.
Besides students’ usual grammar exercises in English class, they can learn literature-based ways to enhance their grammar capabilities.
Spontaneous poetry is a creative and fun activity during any time of the year, but teachers can apply this specifically to Of Mice and Men.
Understanding the rich connection between period music of the 1930s and Of Mice and Men using lyric sheets and listening.
Students choose scenes from the novel to adapt into a short, dramatic reproduction.
Students can graphically “speak” about Of Mice and Men by creating brochures, posters, and other illustrations about the novel.
Provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point in the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Examine the lynching of Emmett Till to better understand the state of race relations prior to the major accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement.
Short answer questions test student understanding and reading comprehension for Of Mice and Men.
An interactive PowerPoint game modeled on the popular quiz show. A fun way to review.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
Convert the classroom into a courtroom to help students understand the legal system and its implications relating to Of Mice and Men.
Use these essay questions for writing prompts, journal assignments, assessments, or discussion starters.
Provide a structure that students of all abilities can utilize to build their analytical skills.
Students work in small groups to analyze and dissect a reading, then report back to the class. This activity aids students in understanding complex material.
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