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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

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Justice for all?: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill
Following a study of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, students will view the courtroom scenes in To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill and determine factors which influenced the verdicts in each trial.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Becky Ackert and Deborah Belknap.
To Kill A Mockingbird role-play: A Maycomb pig pickin'
Somewhere near the middle of reading the novel, students start to become confused about characters. This fun role-play activity works especially well just after Chapter 21 and allows students to get to know characters beyond Jem and Scout. It also can be a springboard into further discussions of point of view, theme, and stereotypes.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)
By David Ansbacher.
Concept chairs: A format for classroom discussion
This is a culminating activity that provides a format so that all participants are drawn into a discussion.
The discussion for the "Concept Chairs" will be based on a unit of study that assesses the effectiveness of the Judicial System while examining various types of justice within society (social, personal and constitutional). Primary texts, fictional literature and non-print sources will provide the basis for this discussion.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
By Marion O'Quinn.
Racing against catastrophe: a webquest for English I teachers
Students often have difficulty making connections between classic books and their contemporary lives. This Webquest puts you in the role of student to find learning strategies that scaffold the meaning-making process as your own students read.
Format: /lesson plan
By Kim Bowen and Shayne Goodrum.
Critical literacy
Critical literacy is the ability to read texts in an active, reflective manner in order to better understand power, inequality, and injustice in human relationships. This article outlines the history and theory of critical literacy and details its application in the classroom.
Format: article
By Heather Coffey.
Reading is for the boys (and girls)!
This WebQuest for teachers looks at the difficult issue of how to get — and keep — boys interested in reading. It guides you through the research, then looks at text selection and pedagogy and helps you find specific strategies for narrowing the adolescent "literacy gap."
Format: article
By Kimberly Bowen.

Resources on the web

Spend a day in my shoes: Exploring the role of perspective in narrative
In this lesson based on To Kill a Mockingbird, students are challenged to imagine spending a day in someone else's shoes. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9 English Language Arts)
Provided by: IRA/NCTE
The Story of Movies
An interdisciplinary curriculum introducing students to classic cinema and the cultural, historical and artistic significance of film. (Learn more)
Format: website/lesson plan
Provided by: Film Foundation