Teaching Of Mice and Men is all about exploring issues. There is lots to talk about in Steinbeck’s great novel. Having issues to explore makes coming up with teaching activities easy. You simply have to find contentious topics and provide your students with opportunities to consider and discuss them. This will keep them engaged.
The primary issue in Of Mice and Men is obviously euthanasia. Students find the idea of mercy killing quite interesting. While most students will argue that George did the right thing, there are always some who will counter that argument effetively. The result is wonderful classroom discussion.
Teach the vocabulary, the reading comprehension, the writing skills, but let the issues in Of Mice and Men drive your unit plan.
