Lesson Plan - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Learning Ally Bookshelf # KM769
Title
To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM) – Scottsboro Trial
Theme
Activating Prior Knowledge – To Kill a Mockingbird
Subject
English Language Arts/ History
Time
1-2 class periods
Grade Range
8-12
Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.1
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from
the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the
text.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Activate prior knowledge of the Great Depression and Jim Crow in getting ready to read “To Kill a Mockingbird,” or TKAM
• Read informational text of historical significance that aligns with themes in TKAM
• Answer comprehension questions citing textual evidence
• Make text to text connections
Materials and
Preparation
Introduction
/ Hook
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• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Learning Ally bookshelf # Online or hard copy of Scottsboro trials informational text:
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/index.
KM769
html
• Cornell Notes worksheet (available on website)
• http://www.blackpast.org/aah/scottsboro-boys-tri• Wrapup questions
al-and-defense-campaign-1931-1937
• Computers or assistive technology
• http://www.scottsboro-boys.org/history.html
• Projector (optional)
• http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm
Note: This lesson is designed to be done before reading “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Hand out the Learning Ally KWL chart. Write on the board “Jim Crow Laws.” Have students write this as their topic. Ask students,
what do you know about Jim Crow laws? (Jim Crow was the name of a racially unjust system of segregation and racism that
operated between 1877 and the mid-1960s. It was especially apparent during the Great Depression of the 1930s (where TKAM
takes place) as African Americans were treated especially unfair in many areas of society. ) Tell students that in the story “To Kill a
Mockingbird,” we see several instances of “Jim Crow” prejudice in action. Ask students to identify parts of the story which show this
unjust way of life. (Can be as a class discussion or a writing journal prompt.)
Lesson Plan - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
page 2
Learning Ally Bookshelf # KM769
Instructional
Activities
Tell students: During the 1930s one landmark case highlighted the racism many African Americans faced -- the Scottsboro trial
of 1931. This trial was about nine young black men, who were falsely accused of raping two white women on board a train near
Scottsboro, Alabama in 1931. Much of what we are going to read in “To Kill a Mockingbird” is based upon this trial. (5 min.)
Pass out Cornell notes and provide a nonfiction reading passage about the Scottsboro trial. Have students read the passages in
flexible groups or individually, answering questions about their reading on their Cornell Notes pages. You may write or project focus
questions and any vocabulary words students may not know onto the board. (25-35 min.)
Resources for informational text:
•
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/index.html
•
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/scottsboro-boys-trial-and-defense-campaign-1931-1937
•
http://www.scottsboro-boys.org/history.html
•
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm
Focus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Wrap Up
questions - Have students answer these questions as they read a nonfiction article about the Scottsboro Boys’ trial:
What was the Scottsboro Boys’ crime?
Who were their accusers?
What was the verdict? How long did it take to convict them?
How long until the boys were finally freed?
How do you think a crime like this would be handled today?
How does this case highlight “Jim Crow” laws during the Great Depression?
Tell students that the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee, was five years old at the time of the Scottsboro trial, and it
had a great influence on her life. Have students make a prediction and share out: “What do you think ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ will be
about?”
Have students go back to their KWL chart and type or write in the “learned” column about Jim Crow and the Great Depression. Have
students share out their answers. (10-15 min.)
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Lesson Plan - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
page 3
Learning Ally Bookshelf # KM769
Differentiated
Instruction
Assessment
Accommodations /
Modifications
Optional Continuing
Instruction
• Flexible grouping: based on interest, ability levels, preference, etc.
• Allow students to create and answer their own questions about Scottsboro trial using Cornell notes
• Change assignment format to match desired learning objective
• Use of a computer or assistive technology
• Provide alternative format of informational text (audiobook, braille, large print, etc.)
• Allow students to type answers for all work
• Extension: Watch the film “Scottsboro: An American Tragedy” from PBS. Have a class discussion about how the boys must
have felt, and how the trial helped shaped the future including the civil rights movement.
• Extension: Have students research other popular cases during the 1930s. How did it affect the rest of the twentieth century?
Formal:
• KWL chart completion
• Answers to Scottsboro trial reading
• Cornell notes
• Read worksheet questions aloud
• Allow for student to use assistive technology
• Allow students to type assignments
• Student read-aloud as optional
• Demonstrate all student actions (i.e. worksheet work, answering questions, using Cornell notes, etc.)
Informal:
• Class discussions and participation
• Allow extended time on assignments
• Allow for a scribe
• Grade based on content, not misspelling or handwriting
• Give student choice
After students have read Ch. 16-21 (Tom Robinson’s trial), have students go back and compare/contrast Tom Robinson’s trial to the
Scottsboro Boys’ trial. Possible questions: How are they alike/ different? What influence do you think the Scottsboro trial had on the
author? How do you know?
Materials: TKAM audiobook from Learning Ally, bookshelf # KM769, Learning Ally Venn Diagram #2 (available on website)
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