To Kill a Mockingbird
This story is a true American classic, which is why previous to this year, IB has thrown it to the Juniors. This year marks the first year we will be asking the Freshmen to dive into this story of a small town in the South unsettled by racism and poverty. I could try to summarize this story, but I'd probably do it a great injustice. Thus, click HERE for the original New York Times critic's review of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Image Assignment
Part One Directions:
Maycomb, the setting for To Kill a Mockingbird, is a fictional town. However, the author drew from her own experience of growing up in rural Alabama when writing the book. Below, you will find actual images of Alabama in the 1930s. Browse through the collection and choose three that remind you of some element of the story. Copy and paste the images into a Google Document and provide your own captions for each photo using evidence from the text, then explain how/why it could represent some aspect of characters/setting/plot in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Selma, Alabama Images
Eutaw, Alabama Images
Greensboro, Alabama Images
Part Two Directions:
Visit the link below entitled "1930s Signs" and read the information explaining the nature of the photo collection then review the photographs. Choose one image and respond to it using the Primary Source Analysis Tool (provided directly below this paragraph.)
Primary Source Analysis Tool:
Observe: In this section, identify and note details. What do you see? What objects are shown? What's the physical setting? What, if any, words do you see? Other details?
Reflect: Generate a hypothosis about the image. Why do you think it was made? What's happening in the image? What sort of audience do you think it's intended for? What can you learn from this image? If the image was made today how would it be different? The same?
Question: When viewing this image, what do you wonder about? Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Further Investigation: Write a caption using evidence from the text regarding how this image could relate to events/characters/setting in To Kill a Mockingbird.
1930s Signs
Maycomb, the setting for To Kill a Mockingbird, is a fictional town. However, the author drew from her own experience of growing up in rural Alabama when writing the book. Below, you will find actual images of Alabama in the 1930s. Browse through the collection and choose three that remind you of some element of the story. Copy and paste the images into a Google Document and provide your own captions for each photo using evidence from the text, then explain how/why it could represent some aspect of characters/setting/plot in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Selma, Alabama Images
Eutaw, Alabama Images
Greensboro, Alabama Images
Part Two Directions:
Visit the link below entitled "1930s Signs" and read the information explaining the nature of the photo collection then review the photographs. Choose one image and respond to it using the Primary Source Analysis Tool (provided directly below this paragraph.)
Primary Source Analysis Tool:
Observe: In this section, identify and note details. What do you see? What objects are shown? What's the physical setting? What, if any, words do you see? Other details?
Reflect: Generate a hypothosis about the image. Why do you think it was made? What's happening in the image? What sort of audience do you think it's intended for? What can you learn from this image? If the image was made today how would it be different? The same?
Question: When viewing this image, what do you wonder about? Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
Further Investigation: Write a caption using evidence from the text regarding how this image could relate to events/characters/setting in To Kill a Mockingbird.
1930s Signs
video biography of
|
Quotes from Harper LeeI never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird...I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Folks don't like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks...You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. |
Classroom Documents:
***Primary Source Analysis Assignment
Part I Image Assignment
Pre-Reading Activity
Vocabulary
Map of Maycomb
Character Chart
Part I Image Assignment
Pre-Reading Activity
Vocabulary
Map of Maycomb
Character Chart
Additional Links:
Biography of Harper Lee
Links to Trials similar to that of Tom Robinson:
Scottsboro (9 black men were charged with the rape of 2 white women, who made up the charges)
Willie McGee (His execution for raping a white woman was broadcast via radio)
Tommy Lee Hines (His conviction of raping 3 white women was overturned several years after)
Central Park Jogger (4 men of color were accused of the raping of several white women. DNA evidence cleared their names)
Links to Trials similar to that of Tom Robinson:
Scottsboro (9 black men were charged with the rape of 2 white women, who made up the charges)
Willie McGee (His execution for raping a white woman was broadcast via radio)
Tommy Lee Hines (His conviction of raping 3 white women was overturned several years after)
Central Park Jogger (4 men of color were accused of the raping of several white women. DNA evidence cleared their names)