What should a teacher focus on teaching with ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell? How can teens relate??

Question

1. Aninal Farm is about Political Abuse of Power.

2. It is a Satire or Social Critique on Socialism.

3. How will 15 year olds become fascinated with this??

PEZ

Answer 1

I don't think you can separate #1 from #2 --both are integral to the novel. I do believe you can get 15 year olds involved by comparing to today.
Research a current political scandal on the state, local, or national level, or one from the past (such as Watergate or Tammany Hall). Develop a brief animal allegory of the main figures involved, using some of the same animals found in Orwell's novel.
It's a great book.

Answer 2

We just finished that book in my class a few weeks ago. It was a good read in my opinion. Anyways what we did was we had a Animal Farm Packet, and had to fill things about the characters, vocab, and etc. to make sure everyone knew what was going on in the book (http://www.dentonisd.org/5121259218323/lib/5121259218323/Animal_Packet.xls). Make sure that your students realize the resemblance between the characters in the book and the Russian figures. Like Snowball - Trotsky, Mr. Frederick - Adolf Hitler, and so on.(You can find some here: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/characters.html). And then let the divide into groups for a day and do a presention of the book. As in group one does Ch. 1 -3, Group 2 does chapters 4-6, etc. as they interpreted it. Be sure you realize how play up the book, and how in to it they'll be! Good luck.

Answer 3

It's a damn good book on its own- don't over emphasize the political characteristics during the reading. When finished, use group activities that would dig into that aspect - maybe like having them form their own governments, whether for or against what was understood within the story. Know what I mean?

Answer 4

have them think of ways or examples of when they gave up their right to have a say in things (what ever is going on) like what are we having for supper or where do we want to go IE::peer groups,or another social settings,talk about how that carries over to the general population ,like voting etc ....how that effects things like, politicians in office that you don't like etc....and how that affects things

Answer 5

are you kidding? most kids that age feel like everyone is big brother and are watching them. well, every adult anyway.