Equus Lesson Plan

The Court of Straw Law!

Kind of Activity:

Group Work

Objective:

Students will engage critically with the text's central arguments, and will demonstrate their understanding of the characters' point of view

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.3 ; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.4

Structure:

At the end of the play, Dysart is convinced he's done Alan a disservice by treating him. Although Hesther, Alan's parents, and all conventional wisdom suggest Alan needs to be "cured" in order to participate in normal society, Dysart is convinced he's removing meaning from Alan's life. Moreover, Dysart believes that by making child psychiatry his lifelong pursuit, he's...