English Language Arts9-12+
Of Mice and Men: Context and Characters Slides
By Elise F.
A slide deck for 9th graders that introduces Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men through the 1930s setting, Steinbeck's background, and the novella's main characters, their personalities, and their conflicts. It builds historical context and literary analysis skills and opens with a think-pair-share on the American Dream, with speaker notes throughout to guide delivery.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this deck as a launch lesson before students open the novella, presenting it in a single class period of roughly 45 minutes with time for the think-pair-share.
- Discussion question: How does the idea of the American Dream shape the hopes of characters who are struggling during the Great Depression?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pause after each character slide and have students jot one word describing that character's personality and one word describing their main conflict.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare the characters' dreams with the American Dream as described in another 1930s text or in a modern source, noting similarities and differences.
- Estimated time: About 30 to 45 minutes for full delivery, plus a few additional minutes if you extend the think-pair-share into a short class discussion.
English Language Arts9-12+
Of Mice and Men: Context and Characters Slides
By Elise F.
A slide deck for 9th graders that introduces Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men through the 1930s setting, Steinbeck's background, and the novella's main characters, their personalities, and their conflicts. It builds historical context and literary analysis skills and opens with a think-pair-share on the American Dream, with speaker notes throughout to guide delivery.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this deck as a launch lesson before students open the novella, presenting it in a single class period of roughly 45 minutes with time for the think-pair-share.
- Discussion question: How does the idea of the American Dream shape the hopes of characters who are struggling during the Great Depression?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pause after each character slide and have students jot one word describing that character's personality and one word describing their main conflict.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare the characters' dreams with the American Dream as described in another 1930s text or in a modern source, noting similarities and differences.
- Estimated time: About 30 to 45 minutes for full delivery, plus a few additional minutes if you extend the think-pair-share into a short class discussion.