Lesson 1

Bring the world of 1930s America to life with this engaging, fully‑resourced lesson introducing the historical context of Of Mice and Men. Designed for Year 9 but easily adaptable for KS3/KS4, this lesson builds the essential background knowledge students need before reading the novel — all through active learning, peer discussion, and clear, accessible explanations.

**By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain the impact of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl on 1930s America.
• Define the American Dream and understand why it mattered so deeply to migrant workers.
• Analyse how John Steinbeck’s personal experiences shaped his writing and worldview.
• Identify the social hierarchies and inequalities that structured life during this era.

What’s Included

• A fully editable PowerPoint with clear modelling, visuals and structured tasks.
• A printable worksheet to support comprehension, retrieval and deeper thinking (no prep required).
• Peer‑talking opportunities built into the lesson to boost engagement and oracy.
• A mix of short tasks, paired activities, and guided analysis to support all learners.

Why Teachers Love This Resource

• Instantly teachable — everything is ready to go.
• Accessible but challenging — perfect for mixed‑ability groups.
• Historically rich — helps students understand the world Steinbeck was writing about.
• °ä³Ü°ù°ù¾±³¦³Ü±ô³Ü³¾â€‘a±ô¾±²µ²Ô±ð»å — builds the contextual knowledge required for strong analytical writing later in the unit.

Perfect For

• Introducing Of Mice and Men
• KS3/KS4 context lessons
• Cover lessons
• Homework or revision tasks
• Building cultural capital and background knowledge
  Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.