A Lesson Before Dying – Review Activities

Lessons & Themes

 This is a round table/round robin activity.
 Groups of 4-5 students – each group has list of main characters from the novel ALBD.
 Students circulate the character sheet through their group, each taking turns writing the lessons
learned by each character and who/what is responsible for teaching them those lessons.
 Each student will have his/her own different colored ink or pencil to account for full and equal
participation.
 Each groups shares with the whole class to end activity.

Scenes of Racism
 This is a jigsaw activity.
 Class will be divided into five different groups – each group assigned to a specific and significant
location from the text.
 Each group will discuss and notate how the specific location is a significant factor in the racism of
the novel.
 Each group will need to create a poster and teach the rest of the class.

5 Human Rights
 This is a jigsaw activity.
 Class will be divided into five different groups – each assigned to a specific human right – from
previously discussed list of human rights.
 Each group will discuss how their specific human right was lost in the novel: who lost it, how it
was lost, who was responsible for the stripping of that right/was it ever granted to that character
in the first place?
 Each group will create a poster and teach the rest of the class.

Characterization
 This is a round table/round robin activity.
 Class will be divided into 8 groups – each one assigned to a specific, integral character in the text.
 Each group will develop symbols that represent their assigned character with an explanation for
the symbol.
 Each group will create a visual aid and teach the rest of the class.

Becoming a Man
 This is a table group activity.
 Class will sit in their table groups – each one will complete a TIMELINE for Jefferson’s
transformation from HOG to MAN.
 Important highlights: Called hog at trial, silent to everyone, angry and eating off the floor (acting
like a hog), having “picnics” in the visitation room, getting the radio and listening to it, opening
up in discussions with Grant, keeping the diary, proud to die a man at the end of the novel.
 Lessons and Themes

Character Lesson Who taught it

Learned

GRANT

GRANT

GRANT

GRANT
 Lessons and Themes

Character Lesson Who taught it

Learned

JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON
 Lessons and Themes

Character Lesson Who taught it

Learned

Henri Pichot

Henri Pichot

Henri Pichot

Henri Pichot
 Lessons and Themes

Character Lesson Who taught it?

Learned

Paul

Paul

Paul

Paul
Jefferson’s Transformation

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L
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N
E
 Scenes of Racism
Court House
Example of Racism Message from
Discriminators
 Scenes of Racism
Community
Example of Racism Message from
Discriminators
 Scenes of Racism
School House
Example of Racism Message from
Discriminators
 Scenes of Racism
Jail
Example of Racism Message from
Discriminators
 Scenes of Racism
Henri Pichot’s House
Example of Racism Message from
Discriminators
 Understanding Human Rights
How was the
Character Human Right character stripped
of this human
right?

Article 18:

Everyone has the

right to freedom of
thought, conscience
G and religion; this
right includes
R freedom to change
A his religion or
belief, and
N freedom, either
T alone or in
community with
others and in
public or private, to
manifest his
religion or belief in
teaching, practice,
worship and
observance.
 Understanding Human Rights
How was the
Character Human Right character stripped
of this human
right?

Article 10:
J Everyone is
E entitled in full
F equality to a
F fair and public
E hearing by an
independent
R and impartial
S tribunal, in the
O determination
N of his rights and
obligations and
of any criminal
charge against
him.
 Understanding Human Rights
How was the
Character Human Right character stripped
of this human
right?
Article 16:

Men and women of

full age, without
limitation due to
race, nationality or
V religion, have the
right to marry and
I to found a family.
V They are entitled to
equal rights as to
I marriage, during
A marriage, and at its
N dissolution. The
family is the
natural and
fundamental group
unit of society and
is entitled to
protection by
society and the
State.
 Understanding Human Rights
How was the
Character Human Right character stripped
of this human
right?
Article 26:

Everyone has the

right to education.
Education shall be
free, at least in the
G elementary and
fundamental
R stages. Elementary
A education shall be
compulsory.
N Technical and
T professional
education shall be
made generally
available and high
education shall be
equally accessible
to all on the basis
of merit.
 Understanding Human Rights
How was the
Character Human Right character stripped
of this human
right?

J
E Article 3:
F
F Everyone has
E the right to
R life, liberty,
S and the
O security of
N person