Unit+Plan+Outline+-+To+Kill+a+Mockingbird

Cindy Steiner Lee, Harper. __To Kill a Mockingbird__. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. Crowe, Chris. __Mississippi Trial, 1955__. New York: Phyllis Fogelman, 2002. Sixteen-year-old Harlan returns to his grandfather’s house in Mississippi during the summer of 1955 and becomes an indirect witness to the murder of Emmitt Till. He observes the prejudice and indignities that African Americans experienced during that time and understands better why his father chose a life in another state. While justice would seem to demand that the alleged murderers be found guilty, they are in fact found innocent, and Harlan discovers his grandfather’s part in the murder. Harlan learns that all is not as it seems on the surface and that doing the right thing is always the right thing, even if it means personal sacrifice. Myers, Walter Dean.__Monster__.New York:HarperCollins, 1999. Sixteen-year-old African American Steve Harmon is in jail as an accomplice to the murder of a storeowner. His arrest is based on the word of a supposed accomplice, and his guilt is predetermined by those who stereotype African Americans. He writes his story in the form of a movie script and diary and shows how the odds are stacked against African Americans, even good students like himself who have never been in trouble before. He proclaims his innocence and is ultimately exonerated, but questions remain about whether or not he is telling the truth about his part in the crime. Each of the protagonists is a young person who initially does not understand how racial prejudice and stereotyping can result in the obstruction of justice. As a result of witnessing or participating in a courtroom trial involving an African American accused of a crime or an African American victim, they all learn how the world treats certain groups unfairly and lose their innocence in the process. **Journal Entries** - Students will form groups of three and write journal entries for one main character (Scout, Steve Harmon, or Harlan). The first journal entry will be something the character would have written before the defining event (incarceration or the trial). The second journal entry will be something the character would have written during the defining event. The third will be something they would have written afterwards. Each student in the group will write one of the entries based on the group’s discussion. Entries need only be a paragraph or two. Students need to focus on what the main character is thinking, feeling, what their life is like, etc. The goal is to get students to understand how the characters have changed as a result of what they went through or observed. **Venn Diagram** – Students will form groups of four and complete a three-way Venn diagram showing how the outcome of the trial in each book is similar and different than the others. Each group will decide if the trial and outcome were fair and give support for their decisions. In other words, why was the trial fair or unfair and what are some underlying reasons for the fairness or unfairness? Look for similarities and differences between the books and fill out the Venn diagram as the discussion proceeds. **Mock Trial** – The class will choose another character (other than the one on trial) from one of the three books and put that character on trial as a class. The class will come up with a list of possible defendants and will vote. The highest vote wins. Some suggestions are Bob Ewell (__TKAM__), Harlan’s grandfather (__1955__), and the American judicial system (__Monster__). Each student will be assigned a role (jury member, judge, defendant, attorneys, family members, etc.) and will need to research his or her part and character as homework the day before the in-class mock trial. Prosecuting and defense attorneys should bring in pictures to help the jury visualize the setting.(some pictures can be found at emmitttillmurder.com but feel free to use other websites or books as well)
 * Unit Plan Outline – __To Kill a Mockingbird__ **
 * __ Canonical Work __**
 * __ Young Adult Literature __**
 * __ Unifying Theme __**
 * __ Response Activities __**