Literature Lesson Plans for “To Kill a Mockingbird”

As your first lesson plan in teaching the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” make sure to focus on the historical background during which the novel takes place. Have students research the Jim Crow laws in groups and discuss which law they think would most negatively impact the blacks at that time. Have each group share their decision with the other groups. Then encourage students to examine why people may have instituted the Jim Crow laws in the first place. How might they have rationalized these prejudiced laws?

During this lesson plan, you also may want to briefly discuss the Scottsboro trials, which contains several parallels to the trial in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” These historical events should help them to understand the prejudice towards blacks in the south during that time period, as well as the lack of justice in the criminal system overall.

After students have read a sizeable section of the book, have them start to discuss the themes that are emerging as they read. Encourage students to write down these themes and to see which ones seem to recur again and again throughout the book. Periodically check in with students to see whether they've all been picking up on the main themes in the book. For some ideas of themes to lead students towards, see this article on themes in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

As the last of your “To Kill a Mockingbird” lesson plans, consider discussing the banning of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Over the years, the book has been banned for several reasons. Have students research these reasons and the history of the banning. Then instruct them to write a short paragraph examining whether they agree or disagree with the issues that the proponents of the ban raised. Encourage students to debate each of the issues with others who disagree with their views.