"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut
Lesson plans and learning activities

| Biography and Background | | "Harrison Bergeron" Lesson Plans | | Slaughterhouse Five |

Biography and Background

Kurt Vonnegut Remembered
In this NPR audio file, Vonnegut talks to Fresh Air host Terry Gross "about writing, censorship, and the experience of war."

Quotations by Kurt Vonnegut
An assortment of one-liners.

So It Goes: Examining the Life of Author Kurt Vonnegut
"In this lesson, students will consider how events, accomplishments, and beliefs shaped Kurt Vonnegut's body of work by creating one-pagers. They will then examine the factors that shape their own lives and create one-pagers about themselves."

"Harrison Bergeron" Lesson Plans

Equality
This unit plan includes essential questions, text of the story, extensive discussion questions and supporting video, ideas for writing.

"Harrison Bergeron"
Text of the story.

"Harrison Bergeron"
Summary, themes, suggestions for approaches in the classroom.

"Harrison Bergeron"
Worksheet, vocabulary practice, and links to online texts.

"Harrison Bergeron" Reading Activities
Two pre-reading, 2 during-reading, 3 post-reading, and 1 extension activity. Two pages; Adobe Reader required.

Launchpad: "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Background materials and discussion questions. Click on the videos to hear editors Amy A. Kass, Leon R. Kass, and Diana Schaub converse with guest host James W. Ceaser about the story.

"Harrison Bergeron"
Students note details as they read. Includes text-dependent questions, vocabulary words, a culminating task, and additional learning activities. Word processor required for access.

The Pros and Cons of Discussion
Students use a Discussion Web to respond to the question, "Are people equal?," analyzing all sides of the response, forming a consensus, and presenting it to the class. Free writeing, a persuasive essay, computer activities, and an informal class debate help students extend and apply knowledge.