Unit 1 Reflection and Unit 2 Preview

Power Up

0What went well this unit? What didn’t? What could be changed? How can this shape our goals for next unit?

Areas of Discussion

0Reading0Writing0Classroom rules and behavior0Power Ups0Discussions

Careers in Education0 Teacher 0 School Improvement Specialist0 Curriculum Developer (schools, museums, parks, after-school

programs, etc.)0 Administrator0 Professor0 Education Policy and Research0 Behavioral Scientists (Sociology, Psychology of Learning, etc.)0 Education Journalist0 International Education0 Higher Education (academic advisor, admissions counselor, etc.)0 Youth Programming0 Community Education0 Outreach Specialist

“Of Mice and Men”

0 “In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.” –John Steinbeck

Essential Questions

0What processes go into making a moral decision?

0Why is empathy an important part of morality?0How do experiences such as isolation and

friendship affect our morals?0Why is the American Dream so impossible to

achieve?

Students Will Know…

0Key vocabulary words and strategies0Parts of a sentence using “The Art of Styling

Sentences”0Concepts related to theme, imagery,

symbolism and foreshadowing0The different types of characters found in

fictional texts

Students Will Be Able To…

0Define morality, empathy and the American Dream0Write a constructed response and incorporate a quote

using parenthetical documentation 0Prepare for and lead their own discussions0Analyze fiction using before, during, after reading

strategies0Analyze and apply characterization techniques0Use strong word choice to improve their own writing0Write a speech that uses argumentative strategies and

evidence for support

Activities

0Socratic Seminar0Before, During, After Reading Guides0Character Jigsaw and Art Pathway

Presentation0“Make this into a Move!”0Argumentative Letter

Characters…

0George 0 Protagonist 0 Small, wiry, quick-witted man 0 Protector of Lennie0 Needs companionship0 Dreams of owning his own land0 Distrusting of others0 Must make a difficult decision

Characters…

0Lennie 0 Large, lumbering, childlike 0 Mild mental disability0 Depends upon George, his friend and traveling

companion, for guidance and protection. 0 Gentle and kind 0 Does not understand his own strength. 0 Love of petting soft things, such as small animals,

dresses, and people’s hair0 Gets in a lot of trouble

Characters…

0Curley’s Wife 0 Only female character in the story0 “Tramp,” “Tart,” “Looloo.”0 Dresses in fancy, feathered red shoes0 Desperately lonely and has broken dreams of a better

life

Characters…

0Candy 0 Aging ranch handyman0 Lost his hand in an accident and worries about his

future on the ranch0 Offers his life’s savings to join George and Lennie in

owning the land. 0 Best friend = his dog

Characters…

0Crooks 0 The only black character in the novel 0 Gets his name from his crooked back0 Proud, bitter, and caustically funny0 Isolated from the other men because of the color of his skin0 Becomes fond of Lennie0 Asks Lennie if he can go with them and hoe in the garden of

their land

Characters…

0Curley 0 The boss’s son0 Wears high-heeled boots to distinguish himself from the

field hands. 0 Rumored to be a champion prizefighter, 0 Confrontational, mean-spirited, and aggressive0 Jealous and possessive of his flirtatious young wife

Characters…

0Slim 0 “Prince” of the ranch0 Only character who seems to be at peace with himself0 Other characters often look to Slim for advice. 0 Quiet, insightful man0 Understands the nature of the bond between George and

Lennie

HOMEWORK

0Essays due Monday (whoops! You don’t have school Friday…)0Choose your character by

Monday