Activity
Introductory Activities:
1.
Reaction Issues
A.
This activity allows students to explore some of the
core issues that arise in The Grapes
of Wrath.
This can be done
as an individual or a group activity. The students
will respond to the questions and then share their
comments
during a class
discussion
B. HANDOUT 1
2.
Notes Sheet
A.
This handout allows students to take notes on not only
the author and the Great Depression,
but
to trace
important
moments
for each character. The students will work
individually and with the teacher on these notes.
Additionally, because of
the size of the novel and the amount of information
given about
each character, the notes sheets become a
wonderful study aide. However, the teacher may want
to
use the notes in what
ever
way meets the students’ needs.
B. HANDOUT 2
Ongoing
Activities:
1.
Reading
A.
The students will read in class and on their own.
Generally, reading
is done in 2 to 3 chapter
increments.
This is completely
up to the teacher as
to how fast or slow they wish to read the novel.
Obviously,
this
is determined
on
the level of
the students in the
class.
2.
Class Discussion
A.
The teacher will lead class discussions
after each reading
assignment.
The nature of these
discussions
will want
to focus on plot,
themes, characterization,
and symbolism.
3.
Review Questions
A.
These questions are taken
from a unit lesson
created
by the Perfection
Learning
Company.
These questions
can
also be used
for class discussion.
B. HANDOUT
3
4.
Vocabulary
A.
The students
will improve
their vocabulary
skills by
completing vocabulary
work. The
words are
organized into
multi-chapter sections.
It is
recommended that
the students
complete the
vocabulary work
before they
read a particular
section. The
words are
taken from
a unit lesson
created by
the Perfection
Learning Company.
B.
HANDOUT 4
5.
Extrapolation
A.
The students
will analyze
specific passages
from the
book. This
activity can
be down
individually or
as a group
activity.
B.
HANDOUT 5 AND
6
6.
Hooverville Slide
Show
A.
The teacher
will visit
the provided
websites, collect
thumbnail images
and present
a slide
show.
7.
Migration Journal
A.
The students
will trace
their family
history, focusing
on the
movements the
family made
and why.
This project
will have
the students
interview family
members, write
a narrative
of their
family, and
present their
journal to
the class.
B.
HANDOUT
7
8.
Reading
Quizzes
A.
Quizzes
will
be administered
throughout
the
reading
to
check
for
comprehension.
B.
The
teacher
will
want
to create
their
own
quizzes
to
match
the
topics
that
arose
during
class
discussions.
Beyond
Activities:
1.
Final
Test
A.
The
students
will
show
their
mastery
of
the
material
during
a
final
test.
Recommended
Outline
for
The
Grapes
of
Wrath
Lesson:
- The
teacher can take this outline and modify as necessary.
Obviously, the teacher may have other activities
that they need to do, so completely
following this outline may be impossible.
Day
1
1.
Reaction
issues
- HANDOUT
1
- The
teacher
will
conduct
a
class
discussion
after
the
students
complete
this
activity.
2.
Assign
vocabulary
for
chapters
1-6.
For
each
of
the
words,
the
students
should
find
the
definition,
the
part
of
speech,
the
origin
of
the
word,
and
use
the
word
in
a
sentence.
- Finish
for
homework
- HANDOUT
4
Day
2
2.
Review
vocabulary
3.
Notes
on
John
Steinbeck,
the
Great
Depression
and
the
Dust
Bowl
-
The
students
will
use
the
notes
sheet
for
taking
notes.
This
is
also
a
great
organizer
for
all
the
notes
the
students
will
take.
4.
Pass
out
books
5.
Read
chapter
1
and
discuss
as
a
class
6.
Assign
chapter
2
for
homework
Day
3
1.
Review
reading
from
homework
2.
Read
chapter
3
and
discuss
as
a
class
3.
Assign
chapter
4
and
5
for
homework
Day
4
1.
Review
reading
from
homework
2.
Take
notes
on
the
notes
sheet
as
a
class
3.
Assign
review
questions
for
chapters
1
through
5
- Finish
for
homework
- Handout
3
Day
5
1.
Review
homework
with
class
2.
Administer
quiz
on
chapters
1
through
5
3.
Read
chapter
6
and
discuss
as
a
class
- Finish
for
homework
Day
6
1.
Review
and
discuss
reading
homework
2.
Assign
vocabulary
for
chapters
7-12.
For
each
of
the
words,
the
students
should
find
the
definition,
the
part
of
speech,
the
origin
of
the
word,
and
use
the
word
in
a
sentence
- Finish
for
homework
- HANDOUT
4
3.
Assign
chapters
7
and
8
for
homework
Day
7
1.
Review
reading
from
homework
2.
Review
vocab
3.
Extrapolation
for “Tom
Joad”
- This
activity
can
be
completed
individually
or
jig
sawed
with
group
work.
4.
Assign
chapters
9
and
10
for
homework.
Day
8
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Administer quiz on chapters 6 through 10
3. Read chapters 11 and 12 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day
9
1.
Review
reading
from
homework
2.
Take
notes
on
the
notes
sheet
as
a
class
3.
Assign
vocabulary
for
chapters
13-18.
For
each
of
the
words,
the
students
should
find
the
definition,
the
part
of
speech,
the
origin
of
the
word,
and
use
the
word
in
a
sentence
- Finish
for
homework
4. Assign chapter 13 for homework
Day
10
1. Review
reading from homework
2. Review vocabulary
3. Read chapters 14 and 15 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day 11
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Administer quiz on chapters 11 through 15
3. Assign Migration Journal
- HANDOUT 7
4. Assign chapters 16 through 18 for homework
Day 12
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Extrapolation for “Jim Casey”
- This activity can be completed individually or jig
sawed with group work.
3. Assign vocabulary for chapters 19-24. For each of
the words, the students should find the definition, the
part of speech, the origin of the word, and use the word
in a sentence
- Finish for homework
- HANDOUT 4
Day 13
1.
Review vocabulary
2. Read chapter 19 and discuss as a class
3. Hooverville slide show
4. Assign a response journal for the students to write
based on their reactions to the slide show.
Day 14
1.
Turn in slide show responses
2. Take notes on the notes sheet as a class
3. Migration Journal check
- Check with students to make sure they are making progress,
answer questions as necessary.
4. Read chapters 20 through 22 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day 15
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Administer quiz on chapters 16 through 22
3. Read chapters 23 and 24 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day 16
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Assign vocabulary for chapters 25-30. For each of the
words, the students should find the definition, the part
of speech, the origin of the word, and use the word in
a sentence
- Finish for homework
- HANDOUT 4
Day 17
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Read chapters 27 and 28 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day 18
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Read chapters 29 and 30 and discuss as a class
- Finish for homework
Day 19
1.
Review reading from homework
2. Turn in and present Migration Journal
- The format for the presentation is left up to the teacher
Day 19
1.
Administer final test
- This test should be teacher created so that it covers
information covered during class discussions.
Closure
The
teacher may want to show the film version of The Grapes of
Wrath to wrap up this lesson.
Embedded
Assessment
Assessment for this lesson will be seen in the migration
journal, responses to books, discussion, quizzes etc. Homework
1. Reading
assignments
2. Vocabulary
3. Migration Journal
4. Review Questions
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