Of Mice and Men Project

Name:______Per:______Date:______English 10 CP: Of Mice and Men Project To demonstrate a thorough understanding of the novel, you will present a project to the class. The projects are worth a test grade. Please select one project and follow the guidelines for group, partner and individual projects closely.

 Presentations will be June 11, 12 and 13

PROJECT CHECKPOINTS May 21 Wednesday, May 30 June 4

Progress checkpoints are scheduled to ensure that you are working toward your goal. For a checkpoint you will show me your progress on the project whether it’s printed information, written work, notes, pictures etc. – any type of proof that shows me what you’ve been doing to complete the project. You must have proof on that day to get credit – these are all Mondays, so be prepared.

Group Projects (Up to 4 people)

Film (4 minutes minimum) – Choose a scene or several scenes to act out. You can also create a new scene that was not in the novel (i.e. George and Lennie achieve their dream, Curley meeting & marrying his wife, Lennie’s trial in Weed, etc.) This project includes a DVD copy of the movie and script. PLEASE NOTE: This project requires a tremendous amount of work outside of class. Choose your group wisely, and make sure you have the resources to complete it.

Company - You are opening a business in Soledad, California with the migrant ranch hands as your primary customer base. Create a product that will be sold to farm workers in Soledad and the neighboring ranches. (Examples - a product that can be used with farming, something the men could use in the evenings for fun, special type of food, clothing, etc.)  1-page proposal explaining why you chose your product and why you think it will interest the men  2 Business Letters – One to the bank that outlines each person’s role in the project and one to the “boss” convincing him to carry your product on his farm  Company Name  Company Logo  Visual Aid to use during presentation (poster, PowerPoint, etc.)

Partner Projects (You and one other person) Comic Book –  You must create both a front and a back cover, each of which have at least ONE image.  There must be at least ONE page per chapter (so a minimum of EIGHT pages total, including front and back covers).  There must be at least TWO images per chapter.  Each chapter must contain at least ONE direct quote from the text (so a minimum of SIX quotes total). Research any topic within the novel that you’d like to know more about and present the information to the class in an appropriate format. Topics can include: The Dust Bowl, migrant workers, Steinbeck’s life, mental retardation, how a Hollywood star is discovered, ranches, the effects of loneliness, the American Dream etc.  Formats include: power point presentations, posters, brochures, newspapers, etc.  Print out of facts  Works Cited page (NOT Links - If you need help with a Works Cited, please see my blog or schedule extra help with me)

Build a miniature model of the ranch - This will include all parts of the ranch: main house, bunk house, stable, barn and the place by the river where the novel begins and ends. It should follow the description in the text and include as many of the little details as possible i.e. – bunks, apple boxes, animals, crops, card table, horseshoe pit, Crook’s room etc.

The Idiom Book - This project involves researching the Idiom – where do they come from? When did they first appear in the English language? What are some of the more unusual ones that you found? You will answer those questions in the introduction and then include the following:  15 idioms found throughout the novel. For each idiom you will include the sentence from the text that contains the idiom with the idiom underlined, a translation, and an illustration of the idiom (you may draw or use clip art).  The book will have an illustrated cover and at least 16 pages (intro & 15 idioms)

Individual Projects (Only you)

Poetry Book – Find and write poems about the main themes found in the novel: Friendship, Loneliness, Hopes and Dreams and Death.  You will have a total of 8 poems (25-30 line minimum), 4 by published poets and 4 written by you, that reflect each of the themes.  An illustrated cover  Table of content  Works Cited page for published poems  For your presentation, you will read any 3 of the poems to the class.

Character Sketch Book – Draw portraits of five of the main characters (your choice)  Each drawing will include the quotes from the text that you used to create the drawings  An illustrated cover  This one is for those with artistic talent. If you can’t draw, this project is not for you!

Collage Project – Clip pictures and words from magazines and the Internet to create a collage on a LARGE piece of poster board. The collage should include the elements of the novel including: setting, characters, conflicts, themes etc. It should give an overall view of the entire novel with no blank spots on the poster board.

Create your own original project - See me with proposals