The Grapes of Wrath Lesson Plan

Podcasting, Day 1

Kind of Activity:

Collaborative Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to illuminate the novel's characters and themes using an unusual contemporary form

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.5; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.4; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.5; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.6; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.5

Structure:

Discuss with students Steinbeck's back-and-forth pattern in the novel, moving between the "generalized" view of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and the intimate view of the Joad family.

Split students into small groups (two or three members) and introduce the concept of newscasting and...