kmeyers
Registered: 04/08/08
Posts: 1
|
|
|
Reply with quote | #1 |
Although my 9th grade high school students and I have liked all of Jen Bryant's novels, our favorite is definitely The Trial. I do a web quest with the kids to get them familiar with the background of the trial before we read it. I give them a reporter's packet to fill out as they read and the best part is the reenactment of the trial complete with defendant, witnesses, jury, one incompetent lawyer, and one great lawyer. Generally speaking the outcome of the trial is a hung jury! I do this novel in conjunction with To Kill a Mockingbird because there are many similarities between Richard Hauptmann and Tom Robinson and the theme of prejudice rings true throughout both. Even the most reluctant readers get into the mystery of the book and all love what a quick read it is.
I know this story makes an impact on the kids because when I get the 9th graders back in 11th grade and they have to choose a history-based topic for their major research paper unit, many choose to do it on the Lindbergh baby kidnapping/murder trial. Recently there have been some very interesting findings disputing Hauptmann's guilt and I have read many convincing research papers defending Hauptmann's innocence. All in all, definitely one of my favorite books to teach!
__________________
Downingtown West English Faculty |
| |
