Fahrenheit 451
Teacher's Guide - Schedule / Lesson Plans

Introduction

Schedule/Lesson Plans

Capstone Project Ideas

Essay Topics

Additional Resources

NCTE Standards

Credits

Back to Reader's Guide

This is a suggested teaching schedule for a 10 class study of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Lesson plans and handouts can be downloaded individually by clicking on the name of the file in the schedule below. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these files.

The CD Audio Guides are available only for the communities participating in The Big Read. If your community is participating, contact the lead community organization to receive a free Audio Guide. If your community is not participating, encourage a local organization (such as a library, museum, literary center, arts council, or similar non-profit organization) to apply.

Day One

FOCUS: Biography
Day One Lesson Plan [49K PDF]
Activities: Listen to The Big Read CD, Track One (16:40). Read Reader’s Guide essays. Write on Jiménez quote. Write on books that influenced students’ lives.
Homework: Handout One [48K PDF]. Read to page 31 in the novel.

Day Two

FOCUS: Arts and Culture
Day Two Lesson Plan [47K PDF]
Activities: Listen to the Big Read CD, Track Two (12:10). Write about the depiction of technology in the novel.
Homework: Finish Part One (pp.32-68).

Day Three

FOCUS: Narrative and Point of View
Day Three Lesson Plan [47K PDF]
Activities: Explore Beatty’s monologue. Write the story from Clarisse’s point of view.
Homework: Part Two (pp. 69-91).

Day Four

FOCUS: Characters
Day Four Lesson Plan [36K PDF]
Activities: Explore Montag’s relationship to other characters. Write about the antagonist.
Homework: Finish Part Two (pp. 91-110).

Day Five

FOCUS: Figurative Language
Day Five Lesson Plan [43K PDF]
Activities: Explore the meaning of the chapter titles. Write using techniques of image, simile,
and metaphor.
Homework: Part Three (pp. 111-130). Handout Two [47K PDF].

Day Six

FOCUS: Symbols
Day Six Lesson Plan [36K PDF]
Activities: Review the novel to identify symbols. Explore the Mechanical Hound as a symbol.
Homework: Part Three (pp. 131-145).

Day Seven

FOCUS: Character Development
Day Seven Lesson Plan [40K PDF]
Activities: Focusing on the Myth of Icarus, compare Montag’s development to that of Icarus. Analyze Montag’s new relationship to nature.
Homework: Finish Part Three (pp. 146-165).

Day Eight

FOCUS:The Plot Unfolds
Day Eight Lesson Plan [40K PDF]
Activities: Chart a timeline of the story. Develop a plot for the sequel.
Homework: “Afterword” and “Coda” (pp.167-179). Handout Three [47K PDF].

Day Nine

FOCUS: Themes of the Novel
Day Nine Lesson Plan [48K PDF]
Activities: Develop an interpretation of the novel inspired by Faber’s lecture about civilization and books.
Homework: Work on essay.

Day Ten

FOCUS: What Makes a Great Book?
Day Ten Lesson Plan [42K PDF]
Activities: Explore the qualities of a great novel and the voice of a generation. Examine qualities that make Bradbury’s novel successful. Peer review of paper outlines or drafts.
Homework: Finish essays.