Curriculum Project - Old Unit

Unit: Utopia

Topic of Instruction: Animal Farm

Essential Questions for Unit

1. In what ways can people be politically oppressed? Socially oppressed?
2. What are control techniques?
3. What are capitalism, communism, democracy, and totalitarianism?
4. What is propaganda?
5. How is propaganda used in Animal Farm?

Assessment

1. Class preparation and participation
2. All writing assignments
3. Russian Revolution research
4. Vocabulary worksheet and quiz
5. Movie critique
6. Structured debate
7. Magazine cover
8. Objective test

Activities and Experience

1. Before the class begins the novel, Animal Farm, a class discussion will take place about the specific opinions the students have about many of the themes treated in the novel. The importance of this exercise is to have the students formulate, discuss, listen to, and respect each other’s opinions about the issues. The themes that will be discussed are:
a. Power corrupts those who possess it.
b. People’s ignorance contributes to their political and social oppression.
c. Revolutions may result in a change of political power, but often the lives of a majority of people stay about the same.
d. In society individuals are not treated equally.
2. Research information on George Orwell.
3. Complete a teacher created vocabulary sheet.
4. Keep a journal recording impressions, reactions, and questions about the assigned reading.
5. Identify and explain the meanings of the animals’ names. Why did Orwell choose them? Can animals be stereotyped? Explain your answer.
6. Create a list of allegorical symbols found in Animal Farm. Explain how the persons, objects, or events in the book and in Russian history are similar.
7. Identify and in a short essay, explain the use of propaganda.
8. Discuss how people, can use tactics to manipulate and control us.
9. Write and present a short play that shows what life on Manor Farm is like five years after the novel ends.
10. View the animated version of Animal Farm and critique it. How many “stars” would you rate this film?
11. George Orwell was featured on the cover of Time magazine’s November 28, 1983, issue. Design a magazine cover that shows Orwell’s relevance to today.
12. Create a chart or diagram, showing the parallels between characters in Animal Farm and figures in Soviet history. Students may want to include photos of Marx, Trotsky, Stalin, the Kremlin, and so on as well as pictures of a farm and farm animals.