Writers are influenced by their environment such as their family, community,
lifestyle, or location. One such writer was Mark Twain. In this project
the learner will become familiar with and analyze life around Hannibal,
Missouri, during the latter half of the nineteenth century using various
online and print resources to determine what effects this location had
on the writings of Mark Twain. The curriculum context will be within a
unit on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Segments
of this lesson might also be integrated into a study of Twain's The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
This project consists of three lessons. Lesson One addresses the analysis of primary documents while the second and third lessons challenge the student to locate and analyze other online resources relating to the influences that growing up around Hannibal had on Twain's work.The lessons could be presented prior to the reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with introductory material or integrated while reading the novel.
This series of lessons is an integral part of a larger unit taught in
our school system. Additional educational projects relating to the study
of Twain and the novel are described on the Enrichment
Activities page. Even though these activities are directed at Mark
Twain and his writings, they could easily be adapted to almost any author
and his environment.
Lessons
Lesson
One: Analysis of Primary Resources (2-3 hours)
Primary sources expose students to multiple perspectives on issues
of the past and present. By working with primary sources, students will
be able to critically evaluate information resources for content, validity,
authoritativeness, perspective, relevancy and accuracy. In this lesson,
students will learn how to analyze primary resources such as those that
are found in the American Memory Collection.
Lesson
Two: Searching the American Memory Collection (3-4 hours)
Students will learn how to use the American Memory Collections to locate
primary sources (as they pertain to the novel Huck Finn) relating not only
to Hannibal and its impact but also to what was happening between 1850
and 1900 along or near the Mississippi River.
Lesson
Three: Student Presentations (10-15 minutes per presentation, plus
additional time for class interactions and outside research)
Following their investigations students will share their findings and
interpretations as they relate to what was happening between 1850 and 1900.
Enrichment
Activities
These educational projects are directed at Mark Twain and his writings,
but they could easily be adapted to almost any other author and his/her
environment.
American Memory
jwoody@netins.net
nthiese@aea1.k12.ia.us
May 19, 2000