The Zoo Story Lesson Plan

Why, and What Next?

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to study the craft of "The Zoo Story" while creatively exploring what might happen next.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5

Structure:

Students may have noticed the story ends rather abruptly, even confusingly. After all the tension and suspense, Jerry dies suddenly and senselessly, impaling himself on his own knife and urging Peter to flee (lest he be implicated as a murderer). As for the story of what happened at the zoo, we never really get to hear it - and perhaps it doesn't matter much in the end.

Students should speculate as...