The Steinbeck in the Schools website, (https://www.steinbeckintheschools.com/) created by the San José State University’s Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies, is a truly valuable resource for both educators and students exploring the works of John Steinbeck. The website offers free, high-quality learning materials including a comprehensive biography of John Steinbeck, lesson plans and reading guides for each of his works, as well as geographical and historical context for his literature. The wide variety of materials allows students to go beyond a simple analysis of a work’s plot or characters and invites a meaningful exploration of underlying themes, Steinbeck’s perspective, and the impact of geography and historical events on Steinbeck’s works. Launched in 2003, the Steinbeck in the Schools website reached the classrooms of over a million students and teachers from over two hundred countries by 2023.
John Steinbeck’s mother Olive was a school teacher. He thought very highly of teachers (as we all should!) and believed that education was, and is, a very important piece in learning empathy, developing understanding, and creating original thought.
What makes the website truly valuable to educators is its thoroughness in addressing classroom needs. Each of the learning materials are able to be downloaded, and the lesson plans are also able to be customized and adapted for different learning environments and grade levels. Within each lesson plan, detailed procedures and suggestions guide educators in taking full advantage of the website’s resources. Another section of the website offers materials designed by San José State University education professors specifically for classrooms with multilingual learners, making Steinbeck’s works more accessible to students of diverse backgrounds.
From short stories like The Red Pony and The Chrysanthemums, to short novels like Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck in the Schools has everything from essay prompts, critical thinking questions, quizzes, and more.
Beyond its attention to user needs, the Steinbeck in the Schools website also explicitly lists the Common Core Standards met by each activity. In doing so, it clearly defines the skills that students develop through the activity and allows its lessons to be more easily integrated into the English curriculum. The clear labeling of Common Core Standards enables teachers to select an activity and immediately understand which academic skills it addresses.
Under the “Steinbeck’s Works” tab of the Steinbeck in the Schools website, reading resources are grouped under each of Steinbeck’s works. With a single click, users are able to view material offered by the website for one of his works. Without leaving the website, therefore, both students and educators can access all of the reliable information they may need while reading or teaching.
As an example, this is a quick look at the page for East of Eden.
Steinbeck in the Schools is a free resource. Everything is free to download and customize.
Vivienne Lee is a junior at Leigh High School in San José, CA. A growing Steinbeck enthusiast, she believes that Steinbeck’s works grant students a valuable opportunity to think critically about modern society and is committed to restoring his works to the local English curriculum. Vivienne also enjoys playing the flute in several orchestras, volunteering with the San José Public Library and other organizations, and spending time with family and friends.
