Of Mice and Men - teaching resource

Of Mice and Men – Year 9 Teaching Resource 

This comprehensive 23-lesson teaching unit is designed to help students gain a deep understanding of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Perfect for Year 9 English and as a GCSE bridging unit, it includes a 291-slide PowerPoint, 53 editable worksheets, chapter-by-chapter activities and comprehension questions with answers, and exemplar responses for every major written task.

Covering the plot, characters, themes and language of the novel in detail, this engaging unit of work supports close reading, critical thinking and essay writing. Each lesson features structured activities that help students analyse Steinbeck’s style, explore context, and develop clear, confident written responses.

Students study the relationship between George and Lennie, explore key figures such as Curley’s wife, Crooks, Candy, Slim and Curley, and examine central ideas including loneliness, dreams, marginalisation, dehumanisation and the American Dream. The resource also includes detailed lessons on context (the Great Depression and migrant life), language and imagery (animal symbolism, literary devices, tension and structure), and exam-style essay writing using the P.E.T.E.R. approach.

Resource highlights

• 23 ready-to-teach, fully editable lessons

• 291-slide interactive PowerPoint presentation

• 53 printable worksheets with structured and extension activities

• Chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions with full answer keys

• Exemplar model answers for all key written and essay tasks

• Vocabulary and quotation analysis

• Storyboard, cloze and quiz activities for consolidation

• Discussion, creative, and empathetic writing exercises

• Ideal for KS3 English or as GCSE English Literature preparation

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