Senior High School Lessons

 

Literature-Huck Finn

 

Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Learning Activities

Description: This unit features a unique way to help students gain an appreciation of Twain's Huckleberry Finn. The activities motivate learning and offer excellent ways to integrate technology into the curriculum.

Time Required: Approximately 17 class sessions.

Materials: Suggested Resources

• Periodical articles on censorship/book banning
• Books on censorship
• Life on the Mississippi
• Filmstrip: "The World of Mark Twain"
• School Philosophy and Objectives
• Biography of Twain
• U.S. History Books
• Computers and telecommunications access
• Software/technology that may be used: DIALOG, Graphics/drawing software, timeline software, word processing software, historical presentation programs, CD programs, scan programs, laser disks, slide and presentation programs, HyperCard, etc.

Scenerio: A group of parents and students in our community has been discussing the current teaching of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and even the presence of the book on the school library shelf. This group is petitioning the Board of Education in an attempt to have the book removed from the curriculum.

You must prepare a presentation for your class and the Board of Education that will enable the Board of Education to make a decision regarding the statu of the book for the next school year.

You should make use of the attached material for your research plus do your own individual and group research.

Activities: In these activities, you are encouraged to use our school and your home technology resources. Your work be enhanced through use of word processing, graphics, time line, research, and presentation programs.

1. Trace the history of censorship in country. Present the significant findings in a time line.
   
   
2. Discuss the history of slavery, the emancipation of the slaves, Brown v.Board of Education, the role of prominent black leaders (Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, etc.), and the treatment of blacks in our country.
   
   
3. Write a biographical sketch of Twain that focuses on his beliefs about life, society, religion, and education.
   
   
4. Conduct a DIALOG or World Wide Web search and present a source list of materials on censorship.
   
   
5. Construct a chart showing a list of books that various groups of people have attempted to censor and/or ban. Indicate success rates.
   
   
6. Write a paper justifying or attacking the inclusion of the book in the curriculum.
   
   
7. Construct a chart showing the pros and cons of keeping the book in the curriculum.
   
   
8. Discuss the themes of the book. Give examples from the book to support your statements.
   
   
9. Construct a mobile to describe your feelings/reactions to five incidents or happenings in the book dealing with Twain's views on society.

Schedule of Activities:

Day 1

• Assign books
• Explain unit
• Assign chapters 1-9

Day 2

• Reading of assignment

Day 3

• Discussion of chapters 1-9
• Assignment: Chapters 10-20

Day 4

• Filmstrip: "The World of Mark Twain"

Day 5

• Library research

Day 6

• Library research

Day 7

• Discussion of Chapters 10-20
• Assignment: Chapters 21-30

Day 8

• Library research

Day 9

• Meet in groups to discuss activities

Day 10

• Meet in groups to discuss activities

Day 11

• Discuss chapters 21-30
• Assignment: Finish the book

Day 12

• Prepare activities

Day 13

• Prepare activities

Day 14

• Discuss the rest of the book
• Work in groups on activities

Day 15

• Present reports

Day 16

• Present reports

Day 17

• Test

 

Submitted by:

Shirley Moran
English/Journalism Instructor
Stephen Decatur High School
Berlin, MD 21811

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