Promoting Literacy
The Steinbeck in the Schools program promotes literacy through the works of American author John Steinbeck (1902-1968).
Lesson Plans for Teachers
Browse our archive of classroom-tested lesson plans on Steinbeck's works, cross-referenced to current Common Core Standards in Reading. All course materials are free to download. Customize them for use in your classroom.
Reading Guides for Students
We have assembled the largest collection of student reading guides on Steinbeck's major works. Browse plot summaries, character descriptions, and historical contexts.
Historical Context
Explore the times and places depicted in Steinbeck's fiction, including the 1930s Dust Bowl and the migrant-worker camps of Depression-era California.
About the Author
Learn about John Steinbeck's life, from his childhood in Salinas to his acceptance of the Nobel Prize in 1962.
Support for English Language Learners
Download expert advice from SJSU education professors on how to use Steinbeck with English Language Learners.
News
New! An Interactive Steinbeck Country Map!
New! Essay on Steinbeck's Influences
New! 40 free downloadable lesson plans for Travels with Charley.
Essay on Steinbeck's Philosophy.
Teachers! Give us your feedback on our lesson plans.
Learn to navigate the site and find resources.
New student tutorial video. See how to find the resources you need.
New lesson plans available for The Red Pony and Of Mice and Men.
Steinbeck Award concerts and presentations benefit Steinbeck in the Schools.
Program Overview
Steinbeck in the Schools is a program of the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San José State University. The mission of the program is to promote literacy through the works of American author John Steinbeck (1902-1968).
This website is a free resource for middle school, high school, and university teachers, as well as their students. Browse the world's most comprehensive collection of reading guides on Steinbeck's works and an archive of classroom-tested lesson plans. Many of the course materials are cross-referenced with Common Core Standards in Reading. Everything is free to download and to customize for your classroom.
To help students and teachers to connect Steinbeck's writing to the larger world, the historical and geographical context section of the site provides brief essays and descriptions of the times and locales in which Steinbeck wrote and set his stories.
Teachers of English Language Learners will find resources to assist them in adopting Steinbeck in the Schools to their classroom needs. Along with general aids, specific strategies are included in the in-depth lesson plans developed for Of Mice and Men and The Red Pony.