The following novels are suggested for the ninth grade curriculum. If a novel title has an asterisk after it, class sets have been ordered by the county and may be available. If a title is highlighted, useful links are available on this page. More title links will be added as more web research is completed.

Animal Farm by George Orwell The Penguin-Putnam Official Teaching Guide This site is an all-encompassing teacher's guide with chapter summaries, study questions, and before, during, and after reading activities. It is set-up in a standard format with nothing very creative, but it is very complete. George Orwell Resource Page If you want to know everything related to Mr. Orwell, including the name of the editor who first rejected Animal Farm, go here! It is not perfectly organized or comprehensive, but it contains all kinds of interesting, little-known facts. Stalinist Symbolism If you love this novel for its satirical condemnation on the Russian revolution, this is the site for you. It has a complete list of almost every character and object in the novel and what each could symbolize in the revolution that disturbed Orwell so much. If you want to have students do this research on their own and discover what they think, try having them attempt some of the activities on Orwell's Allegorical Animals. This sight is extensive and doesn't offer much guidance, but it is an excellent starting point for independent research for advanced students. Quick Introduction If you just want activities for a three day introduction to Animal Farm, try this simple lesson plan.

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns There is not a great deal of teaching information for this novel on the web. The following links only provide ancillary information. Reviews and a Short Analysis This small webpage has a few detailed reviews and an analysis of the book from a reader's point of view. Historical Information This site was a research project by high schoolers in McDonough, Georgia. It has interesting information about many aspects of the time period in which the novel is set. A Fan Page This page is a tribute to Burns from a fan of this novel. It has a good summary of the text, some interesting pictures, and several reader's personal responses to the book. A Cross-curricular Unit This site contains a unit that incorportates Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science, as well as To Kill a Mockingbird. If you are trying for an interdisciplinary approach, this is the only one on the web.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Resource Index If you need a variety of activities, projects, and writing assignments to supplement the reading of this novel, this is your site. It has tons of stuff! The Dickens House This web activity for young readers takes them into the world of Dickens on a scavenger hunt through a virtual tour of his London house, which is now a museum. It is a fun and interesting way to start backgroud information on Dickens's life and times. The Discovery Site Sponsored by Discovery.com, this is a sophisticated site which contains many user-friendly activities. It even has sound files of vocabulary words in context! Complete Text Online Yes, it is all here. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickins Ask Mr. Dickens This site allows anyone to email "Mr. Dickens" and get a reply. The writing is witty and full of information. Online Study Guide Sparknotes is the company that supports this site. Their work is comprehensive and available for many works other than this one.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee A Quest for Tolerance This site is a locally produced webquest that stresses the theme of tolerance in the novel. Various Web-based Assignments If you want a wide variety of assignments, links, and resources for the novel, start here. Student Survival Guide These pages, meant for a student audience, offer everything a ninth grader might need to help understand this multi-layered work. A Teacher's Guide The students shouldn't have all the fun. This guide has all the extra goodies you need to make your presentation of To Kill a Mockingbird your best ever. Growing up in the '30's This site has pages of background information on the 1930's, the Depression, etc.

 

The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter Random House Teaching Guide Go to this site and click on Light in the Forest from the list of novels. It will take you directly there.

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare Teacher's Guide This site contains the complete Signet edition teaching guide. Surfin' with the Bard If you want a slick, internet-savy site, this is for you. It has some commercial content, but it provides unique information in a user-friendly format. Complete Text Online This site presents the complete text broken down by scenes. Overview This is a very interesting site full of many links and usable information. It examines the play from many different points of view and provides everything a person might need when confronting this play for the first time. Activities for Kinesthetic Learners  If you are looking for activities full of motion, voices, sounds, and movement, engaging your students in many ways, take a look here. The text is pretty dense, but some of the ideas are refreshingly novel. Complete Lesson Plans If you want the comprehensive plans to build your unit around, go here.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck 5 Web-based Activities This is a perfect place to take your students for web-based activities to be used interspersed throughout the novel. Steinbeck Bibliography This is contains an adequate bibliography for Steinbeck. It is not exhaustive, but it is a good beginning point. Create an Essay This site contains several possible thematic essay topics with linked resource pages.

 

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene Understanding American Patriotism The webquest at this site is designed to help students understand American patriotism during WWII so that they can more fully comprehend the danger of Patty's relationship with. Study Guide This website has a student study guid which includes vocabulary and questions for each chapter.

BACK TO TOP