Teaching Native Son - Chapter Summary

Discussion topics coming form the students.

Richard Wright: Mississippi's Native Son lesson plan

Group meetings aiming to be open, natural conversations. Teacher serving as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor. Evaluations by teacher observation and student self-evaluations. A spirit of playfulness and fun pervades the room. Readers sharing with their classmates and formation of new groups as books are finished. Then, the students will be broken down into groups of 4 students.

About the Book

The students will discuss relevant issues about the novel. The students will evaluate the novel and the main character. They will reflect and provide examples of scenes in the novel. Definition of a literature circle and creation of the literature circles. Literature circle discussion on the outcome of the novel.

Literature circle discussion on the novel as a whole. Literature circle question and discussion of Bigger Thomas. What happens to Bigger at the end of the story? Why do police think a white person was involved in the crime?


  1. God Talks With Me About Friendship.
  2. Native Son Lesson Plan.
  3. Swords Of Antiquity.
  4. Richard Wright: Mississippi's Native Son lesson plan | Mississippi History Now.
  5. Getting Syncd.
  6. How It Helps;

Why does committing murder make Bigger feel empowered? Bigger went to work for the Dalton's to help his family. How is this ironic? Ask if there are any questions, then give the students the lesson's printable worksheet and check for their understanding of the concepts. Check the answers as a class.

Discuss the themes that emerge in the story, including racism, making a bad situation worse, and that our actions have long-range consequences to other people. Divide students into small groups, assigning each group a theme. Have students identify quotes from the beginning, middle, and end of the story related to the theme. Have students take notes on how these moments in the story contribute to characterizations, character decisions, and important events in the story. Each group creates a presentation that includes quotes, photographs, and analysis of their theme. For each of the elements of Bigger's character and motivations, have students work in pairs to identify specific moments in the story where these things change.

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

After pairs identify text evidence, review with the class, the meaning of situational irony. Have students identify the irony at the end of the story including: Bigger kills Mary to keep from getting in trouble, but ends up in worst trouble and that Bigger goes to work for the Daltons to make life better for his family, but by the end, his sister can't even go to school because of his actions. Related Lessons Richard Wright: Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher.

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You are viewing lesson Lesson 4 in chapter 3 of the course:. Classic American Literature Lesson Early 20th Century American African-American Authors Lesson Plans. Classic American Literature Essay Write these dates, , on the board or on a transparency. Lead students to brainstorm events taking place in the United States and in Mississippi during those years.

Ask students to list in their notes the types of things for which one might hunger. Some may want to share their answers with the large group.

Native Son Lesson Plan | theranchhands.com

A review of the meaning of certain terms associated with the lesson may be needed. Students should be able to define the following terms: Teacher may wish to add others. Using the Mississippi History Now article, various texts, and web sites, students will compile biographical information regarding Richard Wright. Have students place their information on a piece of butcher paper for display. In a large-group discussion, students will share their findings and opinions.

They will list the areas in chart form and then will offer reasons for them. Using all the information they have collected, students will construct a ten-line bio-poem about Wright. See end of lesson for model.