Ethical or Human Dimensions:
Simple stories can provide students with an example of how authors use humor as a metaphor for problems and issues.
Objective:
Students will:
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Recognize humor as a literary device that can be used to express feelings about problems and issues
Activities:
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Read and discuss Simple vignettes
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Explore and research a case study based on a school problem; local, state or national issues; historical problem; scientific issue; family problem; or moral question
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Prewrite, draft, revise, edit and publish a modern day Simple skit involving two stand-up comics.
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Act out vignettes in teams of two
Materials:
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Simple Stories: “Census”; “Seeing Double”; “Simple Stakes a Claim”; “Color Problems”
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Pencil/pen and paper
Procedures:
Read and discuss selected Simple skits/vignettes. Discuss how humor is used to improvise. Ask each student to explore an issue or a problem of interest and about which a skit can be written. Upon publishing skits, assign pairs of students to act out skits.
Extension:
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Read Simple stories and create a mock interview with Langston Hughes discussing his views on social issues past and present.
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Research the life of Langston Hughes.
