Of Mice and Men teaching pack
The activities and ideas in this pack will help students develop a close understanding of the text, explore its social, cultural and historical contexts, consider Steinbeck’s ideas and perspectives, and analyse his use of language and structure.
‘There’s a strong focus on the themes, characters and life in 1930s America in this pack, with plenty of support for students developing their own critical interpretation. There are some great contextual images of the Dust Bowl and documentary-style videos too. It’s a short but powerful novel so the approaches are suitable for KS3 students as well as IGCSE, and there’s something for all abilities.’
Helen Stacey, writer
All the practical and creative ideas you need to teach this popular text in one place.
What's included?
- an assessment objective map
- lesson plans and ideas alongside tailor-made resources.
What's inside?
Introduction (pages 2-3)
Section 1 (pages 4-20)
- Resource - judge a book by its cover
- Resource - a comprehensive pack
- Resource - Lennie in quotes
- Resource - historical context
- Resource - wanted poster
- Resource - section 1 learning grid
- Resource - match the contextual information
- Resource - evaluating a PEE paragraph
Section 2 (pages 21-37)
- Resource - chapter 2 – introducing more characters
- Resource - picture research
- Resource - chapter 2 question loop
- Resource - role on the wall
- Resource - chapters 1 and 2 – picture game
Section 3 (pages 38-58)
- Resource - word definitions task
- Resource - Steinbeck’s writing style
- Resource - foreshadowing
- Resource - from Character presentations
- Resource - tension graph
- Resource - A-Z quiz of George and Lennie’s Dream
- Resource - Chapter 3 – Do you know the question? Quiz
Section 4 (pages 59-72)
- Resource - bullseye
- Resource - Chapter 4 – Getting to know Crooks
- Resource - Crooks and Curley’s wife
- Resource - critics’ viewpoints
- Resource - De Bono’s six thinking hats
- Resource - top ten statements
Section 5 (pages 73-100)
- Resource - power and authority diamond nine
- Resource - the characters’ innermost feelings
- Resource - Lennie on trial
- Resource - an unusual form
- Resource - extract study
- Resource - Curley’s wife: Miss Dynamite or lonely victim?
- Resource - Curley’s wife: do we sympathise with her?
Section 6 (pages 101-133)
- Resource - Chapter 6 – Beat the clock
- Resource - storyboard
- Resource - characters – key quotations revision guide
- Resource - Bloom’s taxonomy discussion questions
- Resource - society under scrutiny
- Resource - put the PEE structures back together
- Resource - themes in the novel – essay planning
Exam style questions (pages 134-135)
This sample shows a student activity for the first section of Of Mice and Men:
Extract study: section 1 (b)
Overview:
Lennie asks George to tell him about the Dream Farm.
‘Lennie spoke … one of them to Lennie.’
1. Steinbeck indicates that this conversation has happened many times before. Find three quotations from the extracts that show this. What is the significance of this?
2. George’s mood changes through the extract. Show how Steinbeck presents this, and suggest why it is so. (Clue: Steinbeck’s use of adverbs may help you see this).
3. What do Lennie’s contributions and interruptions tell us about his character?
4. George often uses the specific colloquial language of the itinerant worker. Copy down these examples from the extract and explain in your own words what they mean:
‘work up a stake’ ‘blow their stake’
‘get the jack’ ‘poundin’ their tail’
5. How does the extract tie in with what you know about ‘The American Dream’? Do you think George and Lennie’s plans are realistic or romantic? How does Steinbeck give us a clue about this?
Extension
Some critics have accused Steinbeck of portraying the relationship between George and Lennie in an overly sentimental way. Find some examples in the extract that these critics might have been thinking of, and try to explain their viewpoint. What do you think about this issue?
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