Challenge readers of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath to create a museum exhibit that uses artifacts to focus on one issue raised by the award winning story of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the Joads.

Open-ended questions that cause readers to think critically and deeply about a text are hard to craft. Never fear! A collection of great discussion questions for John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, or The Pearl is...

The American Dream is a goal that many pursue, but is it truly attainable for all people? An in-depth lesson explores the plight of migrants in twentieth-century America. The resource includes a video and author biographies and...

The Grapes of Wrath may be the most famous novel set during the Dust Bowl, but what other stories cover the same time? The unit focuses on the Karen Hesse novel Out of the Dust. Learners keep a timeline of the Dust Bowl, maintain a...

Keeping readers on track with John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath can present a challenge. A teacher's guide is packed with worksheets designed for each chapter of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, ideal for assessing comprehension as...

To conclude their study of Out of the Dust, the 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel, individuals craft a narrative essay based on one of the themes in Karen Hesse's novel.

A K-W-H-L chart is a great way to scaffold prior knowledge. As class members begin their reading of Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse’s 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel, they chart what they already know about the Great Depression and...

A guided imagery exercise is a great way to get readers thinking about writing. As part of their study of Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse’s 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel, class members listen to a reading of one of the poems from...

Encourage good reading habits with an activity that asks class members to examine the title and cover of Out of the Dust, and then make predictions about the setting of and events in the tale.  

Imagine using a six-sided cube to encourage readers to analyze a topic in greater depth. Create a cube, label each of the six sides with one of Bloom's comprehension levels, and you're ready to launch a discussion of a text. Although...

As part of their study of Out of the Dust, readers create a biopoem for one of the characters in Karen Hesse's 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel.

To prepare for a reading of Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse’s 1998 Newbery Medal winning verse novel, class members complete an anticipation guide that focuses attention on themes readers will encounter in the novel.

Add a great resource to your collection of The Grapes of Wrath curriculum materials. A thorough packet contains loads of useful suggestions, whether you use the novel as an anchor text, as a reading circle option, or as independent reading.

Elementary pupils are introduced to the Great Depression as a critical period of hardship in United States history. They engage in collaborative assignments researching the Dust Bowl, the New Deal, US presidents, and presidential libraries.

Learn about the Dust Bowl through primary source analysis and related activities. Class members first read the provided historical background and then pretend they are leaders of the Last Man's Club in order to come up with at least four...

"And this you can know—fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe." What is The Grapes of Wrath all about? Class members are asked to identify what they...

"You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin' about stuff." Readers are asked to think about what they see as the important turning points in The Grapes of Wrath. Groups are then asked to think about what scenes could be eliminated if...

What's with that turtle anyway? In session six of a ten-part unit study of The Grapes of Wrath, class members examine three major symbols that appear in the novel: Route 66, the American West, and the Biblical allusions in the title of...

Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Judy Garland. Jack Benny, The Lone Ranger, Edward R. Murrow. Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman. The second activity in a unit devoted to The Grapes of Wrath establishes for readers the cultural and...

Books can be dangerous things. They can change the way we perceive ourselves, others, and the world around us. Experiences can be dangerous too, especially when writers want to share their experiences. John Steinbeck traveled with...

A perfect companion for anyone reading The Grapes of Wrath, this 20-page packet instructs and directs readers' attention to all the key elements in John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize winning novel. The questions for Chapter one direct...

Here's a great resource packet to use with a study of The Grapes of Wrath. Individuals select historic photos from the Library of Congress's American Memory Collection and create a photo report album to represent a scene from John...

Readers of The Grapes of Wrath are asked to make predictions about events and personal connections to John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize winning novel with a three-page activity that includes before, during, and after reading exercises....

John Ford's 1940 film version of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is the subject of a 23-question worksheet designed to accompany a viewing of the film. The questions not only focus viewers on events, but also ask them to make...