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Lesson Plans and Classroom Resources
We have been busy developing lesson plans to go along with some of Mark Twain's books and short stories. The plans below were developed during teacher workshops held at the museum during the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008. The lesson plans are organized by books/stories and by the concept that is emphasized in the lesson. All lesson plans are PDFs. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
This creative writing unit can be provided to students to guide them through their reading of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and to inspire them to use their own experiences to launch a creative writing project. The packet contains photographs relating to settings and events in the book with corresponding page numbers. These reading and activity suggestions were created by Quincy University graduate student, Miranda Edgar. Teachers can pick and choose from a broad assortment of engaging ideas. Instead of the usual summaries and quizzes, use some of these fun reading comprehension activities when reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Your students will thank you, and you'll enjoy their creativity. (Includes differentiation strategies for gifted students.) Dialect in Tom Sawyer Discipline in Tom Sawyer Imagery in Tom Sawyer Superstitions in Tom Sawyer Word Choice in Tom Sawyer Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Allusion in Huck Finn Conscience in Huck Finn Point-of-View in Huck Finn Short Story Lesson Plans
The Californian's Tale Lesson Plan Encounter with an Interviewer Lesson Plan How I Edited an Agricultural Paper Once Lesson Plan
Journalism in Tennessee Lesson Plan Jumping Frog Lesson Plan McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm Lesson Plan Mrs. McWilliams and the Lightning Lesson Plan Million Pound Bank Note Lesson Plan Taming the Bicycle Lesson Plan The Prince and the Pauper Lesson Plans
These lessons were developed by elementary and middle school teachers and can be easily modified to work with most grade levels. They are organized by the main focus of the lesson. However, all address The Prince and the Pauper. Adapted for Young Readers Character Analysis Character Development Character Phases Compare Contrast Heroes Unit Mark Twain Life Unit Prince and Tom Sawyer Unit Setting and Social Class Titles and Occupations Using Quotes Yearlong Unit A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Lesson Plans
These lessons were developed by middle and high school teachers and can be easily modified to work with most grade levels. They are organized by the main focus of the lesson. However, all address A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Appearance vs. Reality Artifact and Postcard Baseball and Inventions Dress Like a Knight Group Projects Knight Fight Creative Writing Medieval Celebration and Ballads Projects and Project Rubric Satire and Poetry Story Elements Twain Patents
The Mark Twain Museum is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Mark Twain Creative Teaching Awards: Grand Prize: Dana Thompson, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Mark Twain: His Life and Works (School-wide Unit) 1st Prize, Elementary: Laurie Robinett and Susan J. Snyder, Cary Junior High School, Cary, IL
The Prince and the Pauper (Unit suitable for elementary and middle/junior high levels) 1st Prize, Middle: Barbara Adair, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, New Smyrna Beach, FL
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Unit suitable for middle/junior high and elementary school levels) 1st Prize, High School: Clark Beim-Esche, The Principia School, St. Louis, MO
The Mark Twain Project (AP Literature and Composition) Honorable Mention, Scott J. Peters, Gifted Education Resource Institute, Purdue University, West Lafatette, IN
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Unit suitable for multiple grade levels) Recipients of the 2007 Mark Twain Creative Teaching Awards: Grand Prize: Jill Quinn, Stevens Point Area Senior High, Stevens Point, WI (Huckleberry Finn Lesson) 1st Prize, Elementary: Diana Minor, Eugene Field Elementary, Hannibal, MO (Jumping Frog Lesson) 1st Prize, Middle School: Karla Varriano, White Station Middle School, Memphis, TN (Tom Sawyer Lesson) 1st Prize, High School: Anne Fox, Fort Zumwalt South High School, St. Peters, MO (Huckleberry Finn Lesson) Honorable Mention: Carla Beard, Connersville High School, Connersville, IN (Mark Twain and American Humor Lesson) The grand and first prize winners are invited to Hannibal, Missouri to accept their awards during National Tom Sawyer Days. Thank you to everyone for submitting lesson plans for consideration. And it's not too early to begin thinking about the 2009 Mark Twain Creative Teaching Awards!
Other resources you might find helpful in planning lessons: Timeline
Mark Twain's Genealogy
Mark Twain's Publishing Career
Link to School Tours
Teacher Resource Guide (12 pages of activities, ideas, and handouts - may take a few moments to download) Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT
This is the home where Sam and Livy Clemens raised their children.
Mark Twain Quotes
Thousands of quotes by Mark Twain are organized alphabetically by topic.
Kennedy Center - 4 Lessons on "Mark Twain, the Lincoln of Our Literature"
Library of Congress Lesson Plans about Mark Twain
Mark Twain Papers & Project at the Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley
Mark Twain's Writings Searchable E-Text and Memory Builder Game
National Geographic Lesson Plan - Mark Twain Cave
PBS Mark Twain Interactive Scrapbook and Classroom Activities And more... Field Trips to the Museum
If you would like information about booking a field trip to the museum, please click here. For your convenience we have created an interactive Scavenger Hunt for you to print and bring for your students. We suggest having them work in pairs or small groups to collaborate on the scavenger hunt. Answer keys are available on site. Virtual Tour of the Museum
You can also view a Virtual Tour of the museum created by the Mark Twain Young Authors Workshop particpants. (Teachers, this is a great way to ensure that your field trips will be interactive. Have your students create a virtual tour of their experience here!)
If, as a teacher,you are facing resistance by your school in teaching either The Adventures of Tom Sawyeror Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you will find the completed rationales below helpful. These rationales are copyright 2007 by the National Council for Teachers of English. They are posted with permission. www.ncte.org Rationales for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Sign up for our free e-newsletter!
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