https://sbt-www-us-east-v3.azurewebsites.net/lesson-plans/contents-of-the-dead-mans-pockets-by-jack-finney
Student Activities for Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket
Essential Questions For “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”
- Why is having ambition important?
- When can ambition turn into a dangerous thing for a person?
- Why is it important to maintain a healthy balance between work and having fun?
- What are some reasons why people risk their lives? What are “good” reasons and what are “bad” reasons to risk one’s life?
Phobias
Before reading, have students research a few of the more common phobias: arachnophobia (spiders), agoraphobia (crowds), mysophobia (germs), and acrophobia (heights).
The story taps into one of these most basic phobias: the fear of heights. Have students research some of the symptoms of this phobia (and other phobias), including:
- shortness of breath
- sweaty palms
- panic attacks
- nausea
- changes in behavior
- refusal to travel by plane
- isolation from family or friends
Creating a Good Balance: Ambition and Clouded Judgment
Have students list and brainstorm common dreams and goals they and others have throughout their lives. In addition, have them brainstorm some dangers of “too much ambition”. These could include:
- Neglecting family and friends
- Too much stress
- Unhealthy diet and exercise
- Exhaustion
- Drinking or substance abuse problems
Have students come up with real-life examples or hypothetical scenarios where too much ambition could seriously interfere with the work-life balance.
Image Attributions
- New York City, dimanche 30 janvier • (vincent desjardins) • License Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Find more lesson plans and activities like these in our English Language Arts Category!
Pricing for Schools & Districts
*(This Will Start a 2-Week Free Trial - No Credit Card Needed)
https://sbt-www-us-east-v3.azurewebsites.net/lesson-plans/contents-of-the-dead-mans-pockets-by-jack-finney
© 2024 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
© 2024 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office