Lesson Plan

Toni Morrison's Beloved: For Sixty Million and More

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Complex, disturbing, and challenging, Beloved is the focus of a lesson that provides three activities to guide a close reading of Toni Morrison's novel. Readers create chapter titles based on key plot elements or themes, identify important communities in the story, and craft a sermon based on one of the themes in the novel. To conclude, pupils create a project that they feel represents key elements of the novel.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Display class members' products around the classroom and conduct a gallery walk with creators detailing the vision for the novel that the project illustrates
Classroom Considerations
  • Given the complex structure of the novel and its narrative, the lesson is most appropriate for strong readers
  • A structure must be in place to permit a safe, respectful discussion of the sensitive issues presented in the novel
  • The film version of the novel is "R" rated
Pros
  • Includes extensive background information and links to related resources for instructors
  • A link to a free, audiobook of the novel is included
Cons
  • None