人鼠之間：蘇格拉底式的課堂

"They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick, dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has a mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.

Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him." 

Essential Questions:
What is meant by the American Dream?
Is the American dream a destructive or empowering force?
What leads a person to become isolated in a community?
Can social disadvantage be overcome?
How much control does an individual have over their destiny?
What is the value of loyalty in friendship?
Can you be cruel to be kind?

Meeting 1- Skills- background information (Great Depression, 1937, The American Dream, The Dust Bowl)     
Students should read chapters 1 and 2 before the first class.
Setting the Scene discussion
Assignments: (1-2 hours)
Read chapters 3-4
Analyze “Us Two” by A.A. Milne

Meeting 2- Skills- Characterization   
Discuss and analyze chapters 3-4
Assignments: (1-2 hours)
Read chapters 5-6
Analyzing the Characters’ Dreams Activity

Meeting 3- Skills: Themes, Conflict : The Marginalized 
Discuss Chapters 5-6

Assignments: (1-2 hours)
Complete the “Marginalized Activity” 
Theme Activity: Using quotes and examples to prove the main themes of the story.

** All classes will begin on time as long as there is at least one learner in the classroom. If there are no students in the class 10 minutes after the class start time, the teacher will exit the classroom. This class cannot be taught with zero students. No recording will be available for classes with zero attendance.