01. Steinbeck and the Great Depression

This engaging, ready-to-use PowerPoint is the first lesson in a comprehensive unit designed to help teachers deliver John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men with historical depth and thematic resonance. The lesson introduces students to Steinbeck’s background and the harsh realities of the Great Depression, contextualising the struggles of migrant workers like George and Lennie.

Key Features:

• Structured Learning Intentions & Success Criteria – Clear goals for understanding Steinbeck’s focus on marginalisation and the era’s socio-economic challenges.
• Interactive Tasks – Including a creative “Steinbeck’s Inbox” activity where students decide what stories a man like Steinbeck might be interested in, fostering empathy and historical connection.
• Differentiated “Work Crew” Challenges – A tiered task system (Greenhorn, Lead Rider, Skinner) that mirrors the novel’s themes of labour and worth, accommodating diverse learners.
• Contextual Depth – Key terms, statistics, and definitions (e.g., Black Tuesday, casual farmhand work) paired with a matching exercise for reinforcement.
• Role-Play Extension – An optional immersive simulation where students negotiate 1930s job scarcity, deepening understanding of power dynamics that shape the novel.
• Exit Tickets & Extension / Homework Task – Reflective prompts and an optional identity-based bargaining game to extend learning beyond the classroom.

Unit Connection:
This lesson is part of a larger, purchasable unit that guides students through Of Mice and Men with thematic rigour, character analysis, and historical inquiry. Subsequent lessons build on this foundation, and the lesson map – followable for students – will show the route of the learning.

Ideal For:
• Teachers seeking a structured yet flexible approach to Of Mice and Men.
• Classrooms emphasising differentiation, student agency, and real-world connections.
• Educators who want to blend literary analysis with immersive historical context.