John Brown - An Eye for an Eye
This activity requires students to consider and write about the idea of "an eye for an eye."
Plan for this activity:

Step 1: Introduction (10 minutes)

  • Begin with a short discussion: What do you think the phrase “an eye for an eye” means?
  • Write student responses on the board.
  • Briefly introduce John Brown as a controversial historical figure during the fight against slavery.

Step 2: Reading and Discussion (15 minutes)

  • Read aloud or have students read the provided passage about John Brown and his actions.
  • Discuss:
    • What did John Brown do?
    • Why did he believe his actions were justified?
    • What consequences might come from living by “an eye for an eye”?

Step 3: Student Reflection Writing (15 minutes)

Students respond in writing to the prompt:

Do you believe in “an eye for an eye”? Why or why not?
Think about your experiences, or examples from movies, literature, or real life where someone took revenge or forgave instead. Complete writing prompt.

Step 4: Group or Partner Share (10 minutes)

  • In pairs or small groups, students share parts of their reflections.
  • Volunteers share with the class.
  • Encourage respectful dialogue and listening, even when students disagree.
Other Uses:
Reading Groups - This passage serves as an excellent tool for enrichment-based reading groups in language arts or social studies.
Morning Work - The activity takes most students about 20 minutes to complete, making it an ideal solution for morning work.
Homework - This activity is a great way to assign homework in social studies or language arts.
Whiteboard - Have students come to the whiteboard to annotate important information or to click the correct answers.