| Schedule/Lesson Plans |
| Capstone Project Ideas |
| Essay Topics |
| Additional Resources |
| NCTE Standards |
| Credits |
The CD Audio Guides are available only for the communities participating in The Big Read. If your community is participating, contact the lead community organization to receive a free Audio Guide. If your community is not participating, encourage a local organization (such as a library, museum, literary center, arts council, or similar non-profit organization) to apply.
Day One
FOCUS: Biography
Day One Lesson Plan [49K PDF]
Activities: Listen to The Big Read CD, Track One (16:40). Read Reader’s Guide essays. Write on Jiménez quote. Write on books that influenced students’ lives.
Homework: Handout One [48K PDF]. Read to page 31 in the novel.
Day Two
FOCUS: Arts and Culture
Day Two Lesson Plan [47K PDF]
Activities: Listen to the Big Read CD, Track Two (12:10). Write about the depiction of technology in the novel.
Homework: Finish Part One (pp.32-68).
Day Three
FOCUS: Narrative and Point of View
Day Three Lesson Plan [47K PDF]
Activities: Explore Beatty’s monologue. Write the story from Clarisse’s point of view.
Homework: Part Two (pp. 69-91).
Day Four
FOCUS: Characters
Day Four Lesson Plan [36K PDF]
Activities: Explore Montag’s relationship to other characters. Write about the antagonist.
Homework: Finish Part Two (pp. 91-110).
Day Five
FOCUS: Figurative Language
Day Five Lesson Plan [43K PDF]
Activities: Explore the meaning of the chapter titles. Write using techniques of image, simile,
and metaphor.
Homework: Part Three (pp. 111-130). Handout Two [47K PDF].
Day Six
FOCUS: Symbols
Day Six Lesson Plan [36K PDF]
Activities: Review the novel to identify symbols. Explore the Mechanical Hound as a symbol.
Homework: Part Three (pp. 131-145).
Day Seven
FOCUS: Character Development
Day Seven Lesson Plan [40K PDF]
Activities: Focusing on the Myth of Icarus, compare Montag’s development to that of Icarus. Analyze Montag’s new relationship to nature.
Homework: Finish Part Three (pp. 146-165).
Day Eight
FOCUS:The Plot Unfolds
Day Eight Lesson Plan [40K PDF]
Activities: Chart a timeline of the story. Develop a plot for the sequel.
Homework: “Afterword” and “Coda” (pp.167-179). Handout Three [47K PDF].
Day Nine
FOCUS: Themes of the Novel
Day Nine Lesson Plan [48K PDF]
Activities: Develop an interpretation of the novel inspired by Faber’s lecture about civilization and books.
Homework: Work on essay.
Day Ten
FOCUS: What Makes a Great Book?
Day Ten Lesson Plan [42K PDF]
Activities: Explore the qualities of a great novel and the voice of a generation. Examine qualities that make Bradbury’s
novel successful. Peer review of paper
outlines or drafts.
Homework: Finish essays.
