"Lord of the Flies" Lesson Plans
Teachers can use "Lord of the Flies" lesson plans to lead students in debates and other activities.
By Amy Wilding
In most high school curriculums, "Lord of the Flies" will be listed as a required book. Although, at first, students might read the title and a short summary and think they know what the book will be about, they soon find out there is much more to this story. Once they have read through the first chapter, the reality that "Lord of the Flies" is more than a book about a bunch of boys surviving on a deserted island, hits like a hammer. There are several strategies that will assist with comprehension and make any reluctant English student more interested.
One great introductory lesson is to discuss social roles and social norms. Try beginning with some open-ended questions like: How are societies formed? How does one determine right and wrong? How does one determine who should be in charge? After students have started a debate involving questions like these, it’s always interesting to add a question that makes students respond on a personal level. One easy question to use is to ask what students think about hunting. Ask students if anyone has hunted, and, if so, has anyone killed an animal. Although it might sound a bit controversial, it is important that students open their minds to the implications of someone taking another life. Students might not yet understand how the questions all fit together, but their initial responses will help to determine what kind of preconceived stereotypes students have.
When the class begins reading, be sure to bridge the gap between the situation in the book—building a society, finding a leader, determining roles, survival without adult supervision—and the pre-reading questions. Try having students make connections. For visual learners, using a graphic organizer will definitely help.
As the class moves through the book, one thing that I found very useful is to create a character hierarchy. Have students work in cooperative groups, and after reading the first chapter, create a class diagram. Revisit the diagram periodically and make note of the change in roles. I found that it really helps students keep track of major plot events and character decisions.
Another way to make this book interesting is to incorporate a variety of activities, instead of just having your students read and take notes. One of my favorites is to create a warrior mask. Read through the appropriate chapter. Spend some time discussing how tribal mud/masks have been used in history. Show a few pictures from the Internet. This can be done in just a few minutes. Once you have discussed why one of the characters in the story, Jack, uses a mask, it will be easier for students to create their own mask. I provide my students with a blank template as well as materials. Some students produce masks that are very plain and done in crayon, while other students may use yarn and feathers to accentuate their mask. This mask lesson allows students to break away from the tedium of note-taking and really engage the text.
Finally, one key activity is for students to create a visual map of the island. I give them a list of common locations. They begin by practicing active reading through underlining and highlighting the text. It is up to them to determine the shape and location of places on my list. If time permits, you can try having students complete three dimensional maps. Regardless of the final format, the map activity can help the students determine where events take place. It is an activity that is definitely worth the time.
There are numerous other ways to help your students comprehend and appreciate the more philosophical issues presented in the book. You can explore different websites and find ones that work for you. You shouldn't be afraid to experiment. Here are some other "Lord of the Flies" lessons that may work well in your classroom.
"Lord of the Flies" Lesson Plans:
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
This is not so much a lesson as a list of activities that could be used. Many of the suggestions listed I have used personally. Character sketches, maps, journals are just a few great activities.
This lesson allows the students to assume the roles of judge and jury. In cooperative groups, the students must defend their actions. I have never personally tried this activity, but it has a lot of potential to engage students and show just how much information they have absorbed.
This lesson incorporates media culture with the text. Once students have read the book, they use the television show "Survivor" as a springboard to determining how well they would survive given a similar circumstance.
