George Orwell
Lesson plans for 1984, Animal Farm, and other books

|Biography & Background| |1984| |Animal Farm| |Essays|

Biography, Background, and General Information

Charles' George Orwell Links
An extensive collection of background resources and some links to lesson plans.

Two Sides, One Coin
As a result of this activity, students will understand that political beliefs influence language use.

1984

1984
Analysis (including character and symbolism), study guide, biography, message board. Easy to navigate.

1984
In this SCORE CyberGuide students use online resources to examine the use and misuse of language and the threat to personal privacy in a computer age.

1984
Designed for grades 9 and 10, this site offers a summary, theme openers, crosscurricular activities, research assignments, and suggestions for additional reading.

1984
This 38-page packet supports 246 vocabulary words drawn from the novel. Adobe Reader or compatible application is required for access.

1984
Scroll down on this page to find ideas for prereading research, extensive study guide questions, and test ideas.

1984
Students investigate issues of invasion of privacy and manipulation of public opinion.

1984 Anticipation Guide
Students respond to 10 statements before and after reading. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.

1984 Extension Project
Students explore the use of propaganda by evaluating and revising magazine advertisements.

1984: How Much Fact in Fiction?
Students explore both historical context and modern society. They also explore themes from the novel. Lesson plans, adaptations, discussion questions, evaluation, extensions, historical and other links, and vocabulary.

1984 Reading Group Guide
Background and 20 discussion questions.

Freedom of Speech and Automatic Language: Examining the Pledge of Allegiance
Students explore the history and meaning of the Pledge and First Amendment. They consider freedom of speech issues as they apply to fictional characters and their own lives. They write a pledge of their own.

Pizza Palace
This fictional scenario explores the possibilities whe Big Brother watches an ordinary person who just wants to order a pizza.

Teacher's Guide to 1984
Overview, bibliography, and learning activities. This extensive guide requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

That's Not Fair! Examining Civil Liberties with the U.S. Supreme Court
Working in groups, students explore the issue of civil liberties by conducting Internet research on related court cases of their choosing. To summarize their findings, groups create PowerPoint presentations to share with the class and invited guests.

Animal Farm

Animal Farm
Overview, emphasis on fable, learning activities. This extensive teachers guide requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Animal Farm
This SCORE Guide presents three activities "focus[ing] attention on Orwell's perpetual battle against totalitarianism, the ongoing exploitation of the weak by the strong as it appears in the world we live in."

Animal Farm
This unit plan focuses on characterization and propaganda.

Animal Farm
Looking at a theme of corruption caused by power, this site includes theme openers, crosscurricular activities, and research assignments.

Animal Farm
This 7-page packet addresses 17 vocabulary words drawn from the novel.

Animal Farm Reading Group Guide
Twenty discussion questions.

Animal Farm Vocabulary
27 words and definitions.

Bring your Character in a Bag
An activity that emphasizes allegory, symbolism, and oral presentation.

The Complete Project
Nine activities asking students to research topics drawn from the novel and respond in writing and other ways. Great ideas here!

Glencoe Literature Library: Animal Farm
The study guide is available in PDF format. Adobe Reader is required in order to access it.

Global Book Club Animal Farm
Activities related to the novel.

More than a Metaphor: Allegory and the Art of Persuasion
In this unit plan, students explore the concept of allegory and its use in the novel.

Orwell's Preface to Animal Farm
This essay, intended as the preface to the novel, was published posthumously under the title "The Freedom of the Press."

Top Ten Quotes
Key quotations from Animal Farm.

Vocabulary from Animal Farm
75 words from Vocabulary.com.

Essays

"Politics and the English Language"
Orwell's essay, reformatted for the Web.

"Shooting an Elephant"
An online text of the essay.

"Shooting an Elephant"
This 5-page document includes a graphic organizer and other activities related to "Shooting an Elephant." Requires Adobe Reader or compatible software for access.