Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a retelling of the classic Cinderella story and an excellent opportunity for a lesson in character. The two sisters in this tale are put through the exact same test in their quest to marry a king, …
Before reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, I could use the conversation on civic-responsibility inspired by Margaret Mead to explore the idea that change begins with a single person or small group. Many young people believe their own actions don’t …
In a unit on Colonial America, opportunities arise to discuss conflict and violence. Students learn about the Pennsylvania Colony and William Penn’s long-lasting treaty with the Native Americans, and his desire to support Quaker beliefs to make Pennsylvania a place …
Lao Tzu’s conversation, which cautions against a fixation on goal-setting, fits perfectly with the concepts of minimalism and anti-consumerism. To teach this concept, I would reach back to whom many consider to be the original minimalist, Henry David Thoreau. An …
When having students read the nonfiction novel by journalist Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success, I would use the Lao Tzu conversation to spark a discussion and debate about goal-setting in general. We would start off with the essential …
During a unit on the dystopian novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I would include this conversation by Epictetus about stress management. I would introduce this quote after reading Chapter 2, at which point Katniss volunteers to take her …
I’m teaching plot and characterization in Gary Paulsen’s novel, Hatchet. I will focus on the theme of isolation by analyzing what Brian learns about himself while stranded in the Canadian wilderness. I would introduce this conversation surrounding Franz Kafka and …
After reading the novel, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair with my students, which exposes the ugly truth of the meat industry, I would present Abraham Lincoln’s conversation self-determination. We would use this conversation to prompt a thorough investigation of Sinclair’s …
When teaching economics and the concepts of supply and demand, students can often struggle to understand why demand, in many cases, continues to rise. The conversation surrounding happiness inspired by Diogenes offers a simple way to look at continued demand …
Before reading the poem “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman, I would use Chief Joseph’s conversation about communication to discuss the concept of truth and the idea that simplicity and silence often lead to deeper understanding in …
To teach students the difference between primary and secondary sources, I like to use a fun game like “Telephone” to show how information gets warped and changed as it passes through many different minds and mouths. Once exposed to different …
Students learn about civil disobedience and social responsibility throughout their school years, and the life of Mahatma Gandhi is a great introduction to this topic. To begin this unit, I first read the informational text “How Salt Shook an Empire“ …
