To Kill a Mockingbird
Student Activity
#10
Investigating the Theme
Prejudice is one of the key themes in
To Kill a Mockingbird. Although the novel is set in the American South
during the 1930's, recognizing and working to resolve prejudice is as
important an issue today as it was during the period of
To Kill a Mockingbird.
People experience discrimination when
they are denied their rights as a result of prejudice. In
To Kill a Mockingbird, racial prejudice is the basis for the
discrimination that Tom Robinson and other African-Americans in the
novel experience. Prejudice and discrimination can be based on
ethnic, religious, social, economic, age, gender, or other
differences.
In this activity, you will:
* Use the Web to define the
terms: prejudice and discrimination
* Identify examples of prejudice and
discrimination in To Kill a
Mockingbird
* Explore examples of prejudice and
discrimination in U.S. history
* Reflect on the issue of prejudice and
discrimination within your own life
Defining Your Terms Activity
Instructions:
1) Click here to access
Merriam-Webster
Online Dictionary to help you
define the terms: prejudice & discrimination
2) After you have studied the
definitions of the terms, use a separate sheet of paper to create
your own definitions to share in class.
Prejudice in To Kill a
Mockingbird Activity
Instructions:
Working with a partner, record at least
two
specific examples of prejudice from the novel. Rather than citing a
general term like "racial prejudice,"give a specific incident. After
you have completed your record, share the results with the class. For
each item in your record, include the following pieces of
information:
1) The specific example of
prejudice.
2) The characters involved.
3) At what point in the novel's plot the
example occurs.
4) The effect of the incident on the
characters & plot.
Challenge Step:
Make a class chart displaying the
collected examples of prejudice in To
Kill a Mockingbird.
Discrimination in To Kill a
Mockingbird Activity
Instructions:
Working with a partner, record at least
two
specific examples of discrimination from the novel. Again, be sure to
cite a specific incident. After you have completed your record, share
the results with the class. For each item in your record, include the
following pieces of information:
1) The specific example of
discrimination.
2) The characters involved.
3) At what point in the novel's plot the
example occurs.
4) The effect of the incident on the
characters & plot.
Challenge Step:
Make a class chart displaying the
collected examples of discrimination in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Prejudice & Discrimination in American History
Activity
To Kill a Mockingbird depicts racial prejudice and discrimination in the
American South during the Great Depression. But racial prejudice and
discrimination have played a role in American history beyond the time
period of the novel. The Civil Rights movement has led the effort to
eliminate this type of prejudice and discrimination in
America.
Instructions:
Use the following Web site to take a
virtual fieldtrip through the Civil Rights Museum and learn more
about the history of the Civil Rights movement in the United
States.
2) Identify the beginnings of the
American Civil Rights movement.
3) Identify one important leader of the
Civil Rights movement (note where and when he/she was born and what
his/her most important contributions to the movement have
been).
4) Explain at least 1 successful action
organized and carried out by the Civil Rights movement to achieve
fair treatment for African-Americans (identify key people involved,
when and where the incidents took place, and what the effects
were).
5) Share your findings with the
class.
Challenge Step:
Work with a partner to make a multimedia
presentation (using PowerPoint, HyperStudio, or other program) to
share your findings with the class. Your presentation should include
the following information:
Major figures of the Civil
Rights movement
Major achievements of the Civil Rights
movement
When and where important actions of the
Civil Rights movement took place
Identify Local Examples of Prejudice &
Discrimination Activity
Even if you haven't experienced
prejudice or discrimination yourself, you may know others who have.
People may also recognize prejudice and discrimination practiced
against others.
Instructions:
In a team of 3, brainstorm different
types of prejudice and discrimination you have experienced or
observed, then formulate suggestions to help reduce and eliminate
this type of prejudice among your peers.
1) List as many types of
prejudice your group can think of.
2) Identify at least 1 example you have
experienced or witnessed for each type of prejudice on your group's
list.
3) Identify when and where these
examples of prejudice or discrimination occurred.
4) Identify who was involved in these
examples of prejudice or discrimination.
5) Describe what effects these examples
of prejudice or discrimination have on you and on others.
6) Suggest at least 1 practical step you
can take to help reduce or eliminate prejudice among your
peers.
Challenge Step:
Make a class chart displaying the
collected examples of prejudice and discrimination from your group
work. Color code the types of examples collected to determine which
are the most common examples of prejudice or discrimination among
your experiences or observations. Be sure to include your practical
suggestions to help remedy the problem.
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