The Best Notes
The Best Notes: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
This is an online study guide for the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Monster of a Metaphor
Students analyze the monster metaphor from chapter five of The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck as they develop ideas for extended metaphors that describe characters within a specific setting. Teacher instructions and resources are provided,...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Great Depression 1929 1932: The Depths of the Great Depression
Examines the challenges faced by the average American, by African Americans, and by farmers on the Great Plains during the Great Depression, and the government's response or lack thereof.
Universal Teacher
Moore's Teacher Resources: Of Mice and Men
An excellent site from the UK. Extensive review of characterizations and themes, along with information on structure and setting.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": The Inner Chapters
In this lesson plan, students will consider "John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": The Inner Chapters." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Steinbeck's Use of Nonfiction Sources in "The Grapes of Wrath"
In this lesson plan, students will consider Steinbeck's Use of Nonfiction Sources in "The Grapes of Wrath". Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab. In this lesson students will compare nonfiction...
Other
American National Biography: John Steinbeck (1902 1968)
American National Biography offers a biography of John Steinbeck including links to more information about Steinbeck.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "Cannery Row" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
Five-page guide to "Cannery Row" including comments on background, plot, characters, setting, and themes. Also features useful teaching methodology and post-reading activities. This is a .pdf file.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "Of Mice and Men" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
Six-page guide covering pre-reading tips, plot, characters, symbols, setting, and post-reading activities. This is a .pdf file.
Other
This Side of Eden Images of Steinbeck's California
Take a tour of the Steinbeck Center for the Arts. You can also search the archives.
Other
John Steinbeck (1902 1968)
Monterey County Historical Society website that provides information on John Steinbeck (1902-1968 CE), including biographical information and information on his writing.
San Jose State University
San Jose St. University: The Center for Steinbeck Studies
The Center for Steinbeck Studies provided biographical resources, a bibliography, and appraisals of novelist John Steinbeck life and work, which includes his Great Depression-era classics Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Woody Guthrie and the Grapes of Wrath
This lesson plan provides ideas for exploring Woodie Guthrie's music while reading John Steinbeck's book The Grapes of Wrath.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: John Steinbeck Classroom Activity
A lesson plan/classroom activity about the life and influences of John Steinbeck, allowing for students to understand the relevance to their own lives. Also includes web links, other lesson plans, and a bibliography.
PBS
Pbs: The American Novel: Literary Timeline: Authors: John Steinbeck
Brief biography of American author and Pulitzer Prize winner John Steinbeck, including personal information and history of important works.
PBS
Pbs: The American Novel: Literary Timeline: Novels: 1939: The Grapes of Wrath
Introduction to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Highlights main ideas and themes of the novel.
TES Global
Blendspace: John Steinbeck and the Red Pony
This twenty-six part blendspace is a scavenger hunt that will lead students to learn about the author John Steinbeck, the setting of The Red Pony, and why he wrote The Red Pony. Writing assignments, rubrics, primary sources, video...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: John Steinbeck
This site features lesson plans for several of John Steinbeck's books. Not surprisingly, most resources relate to "The Grapes of Wrath."
Swiss Educ
Steinbeck, John: 1902 1968
Great audio and video resources here: interviews, speeches and the author himself in various contexts.
Read Works
Read Works: How Dorothea Lange and John Steinbeck Captured California
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how photographer Dorothea Lange and author John Steinbeck portrayed life in California in the late 1930's. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in...
Other
Cate: John Steinbeck: A Short Biography
Teacher Janice Albert presents a concise biography of Steinbeck's life and influence.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Creating Dramatic Monologues From the Grapes of Wrath
This lesson plan engages students in creating dramatic monologues from certain scenes in The Grapes of Wrath. Primary sources from the Library of Congress are used to provide essential background content about the setting of the story.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": Verbal Pictures
In this lesson plan, students will consider "John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": Verbal Pictures. The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: The Grapes of Wrath
A Library of Congress lesson on "The Grapes of Wrath," through which students discover how cultural artifacts from the book support its themes and see connections "between the social, cultural, and literary contexts of literature."