Kate Chopin's Short Stories Lesson Plan

Miscegenation

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will be able to understand the stakes of the story "Désirée's Baby."

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.7; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.6; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.7; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.8; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.9; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.5

Structure:

Ask students to describe the central issue of "Désirée's Baby." Most will probably understand that it has to do with race and racism. Guide them to the understanding that there was, for a long time, a particular taboo against intermarriage between white and black people—until the 1960s, in...