#2127. To Kill A Mockingbird: Pre-Reading

Literature, level: Middle
Posted Mon Feb 12 08:35:01 PST 2001 by Kerry LeBlanc (kleblan1@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca).
Argyll Home Education Services Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Materials Required: internet, encyclopedia, resource texts, art supplies if desired
Concepts Taught: research, pre-reading strategies, timeline, sif=gnificance of title

This assignment comes from my online teaching unit. All directions are given directly to the kids. You will likely want to modify a little to accommodate kids in the classroom.
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In this assignment you will be asked to do 2 things:

1) Create a timeline that highlights some of the major events leading to equal treatment of all people under the law.

EVALUATION: Marked holistically /10
Make sure each item on your timeline is:

-all required events correctly labelled
-each event correctly and briefly summarized
-readable (complete sentences NOT necessary)

2) Research what exactly a mockingbird is, and then make some predictions about what the significance of the title might be.

EVLAUATION: Marked holistically /10
Use formal language to clearly answer the questions (200 words) in paragraph form.
Clearly explain your prediction(s) and support/exemplify what you have said with specific examples about the mockingbird.
Edit carefully for logic, spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence/paragraph format.

TOTAL: 2 answers x 10 marks each = /20
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A) TIMELINE OF EVENTS INFLUENCING RACIAL RELATIONS IN THE DEEP SOUTH

Did you know that until the 1950's in the United States, segregation of people based on their race was permitted by law?

Create a timeline that highlights some of the major events leading to equal treatment of all people under the law. Include:
-the American Civil War
-the Reconstruction Period
-the Bus Boycott
-the Brown vs. the Topeka board of Education decision
-the march on Washington
-when the novel was set
-when the novel was written
-any other dates you feel are significant

B) WHAT IS A MOCKINGBIRD?

Authors choose the names of their books very carefully. Often the title contains information that can help us to understand the novel in a broader sense.

Prepare a brief (200 words) paragraph which answers the questions asked below:
Research to find out:
What is a mockingbird?
Predict based on your research how the Mockingbird may be significant in the title of the novel.