In Search of the Novel:Teachers & Lesson Plans

Diana Russell

Diana Russell has taught in the public schools of Arlington County, Virginia, since 1990. She has worked in the County’s “Transitions” program, which focuses on minority and ESL students. She is a consultant and member of the National Paideia Faculty and a practitioner of the Paideia method, giving workshops, speaking at conferences, training faculties, and developing materials.

Lesson Plan for To Kill a Mockingbird

Objectives

After reading and discussing To Kill a Mockingbird, students will gain a greater understanding of relevant racial issues, especially as they touch upon economics, class, education, politics, and religion.
Students will develop skills in the Socratic method, following the Paideia philosophy.
Students will increase their understanding of plot, theme, character, and setting.

Activity/Plan

(Ninth grade GT English/History, three weeks)

Reading and discussion of:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
How It Feels To Be Colored Me by Zora Neale Hurston
To Be Black and Middle Class by Shelby Steele
The Lynching of Emmett Till by John Wesley
We Have Led the Children” by Dave Halberstam
The Struggle for Equality National Education Association publication
The Movement by Ann Moody
The Decade Visual Narration from the 1930s — 1990s (students’ group work from the history class, given in class in Power Point presentations)

Assignment:
Write a personal, reflective essay that considers and cites: The black/white community in To Kill a Mockingbird (four citations). The readings and visual narration listed above (one citation from each). The essay will discuss your understanding of civil rights and the treatment of the various communities in Maycomb, Alabama, taking into account economics, politics, social class, education, and religion,