To help students understand important events in U.S. History during the time period of the setting for the novel Of Mice and Men; these include westward expansion, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.
Filter by subjects:
Filter by audience:
Filter by unit » issue area:
find a lesson
Unit: Food for Thought Middle School Unit by the Westminster Schools
Unit: Surviving the Depression
Using primary source images and interviews, participants learn about life and economics during the Great Depression and how different sectors of society contributed to bringing the country out of this dark period.
Participants discuss and analyze the solutions implemented by President Roosevelt during the Great Depression. The role that philanthropy played in helping to end the Great Depression will be central to the discussion.
Unit: George H.W. Bush and Points of Light
Students define and give examples of government philanthropy. They compare and contrast the four economic sectors. Small groups research a historical example of government philanthropy or civic action and write a persuasive piece to advocate for an issue related to government philanthropy.
Unit: Grow Involved 9-12
In this lesson, students define serial reciprocity as "paying it forward." They compare the concept of paying it forward (serial reciprocity) with the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They brainstorm issues and campaigns they can address to make an impact that ripples forward as a result of...
Unit: Lights! Camera! Take Action!
Young people view and discuss the film The Gift of All: a Community of Givers and identify the influences and attributes of the generous people interviewed. They read biographies of generous people and make a...
Unit: Living In a Community
Children learn that the community has four sectors: business, government, nonprofit, and family. The children may walk through an area in their local community to identify which sector is represented by different places. As an alternative, they may look at a local map.
Unit: Power and Race in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Using award-winning literature, the learners describe and analyze racism in Mississippi during the Great Depression. The readers identify the injustices in the community as well as the values and self-respect that build community relationships and strength.
Unit: Common Good in Aztec Culture
We learn about the ancient Aztec culture in Mexico.
Unit: Be the Change: Democracy
In this lesson, we explore the importance of each person's right to vote and the injustice of limiting that power.