Process
You will form groups of 4 students. Each group is going to be assigned one character that would be found in the setting of the novel. After the characters have been assigned you will research several aspects of the characters role during the 1930's. When the research has been completed you will be the expert on that character. To show your expertise, each member of the team will take part in a TV panel interview with me as the moderator. You will be dressed in character and you will present the information you have gathered as you answer the reporters questions and talk with the three other characters being interviewed. Remeber that your grade is based on how much information you share through your dialogue as well as your creativity in costume and speech.
You will be assigned one of the following characters; A wealthy landowner, The wife of a wealthy land owner, A migrant farm worker, or an African American stable buck.
Wealthy Land Owners: you need to get to know the land you own. Research the Salinas valley and its surroundings. What types of powers did land owners have during the 1930's? Who did land owners have to choose from when it came to hiring? What sort of racial ideas would a land owner in the 30's have? How did they dress? How did they treat their wives and children?
Here is a list of resources to help you answer these questions.
The wife of a land owner
The migrant farm worker
African American
In this stage you are going to prepare for the interview. What issues would bve important to your character? How would your character interact with the other three? Would your character feel free to speak up or would they wait until they were asked to speak? How would your character dress? You don't want to run out of things to talk about so do your best to prepare for the interview.
We will now conduct four seperate interviews. Each interview will have the four characters represented. Each group will send up one representative and the rest will watch the interview. Be ready to answer questions about how the group did after the interview is done.