Highlights of Teaching - Assignment: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Gallery Walk

Grade 11 ELA completed reading “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. In order to analyze the characters and gain a deeper understanding of the themes presented, students completed a Gallery Walk in class.

The Gallery Walk is a means of active engagement that allows students to move freely in the classroom, work in groups, discuss the text, and identify evidence. Students used both laptops and physical pen and paper to complete the activity.The Gallery Walk allows students to discuss literary concepts, themes, ask questions and answer questions in peer discussion. Students were able to understand the complex themes being addressed by the author through a series of clarifying questions and addressing misconceptions. The teacher circulated the classroom gauging student understanding and encouraging collaborative discussion.

The completed Gallery Walk touched on the following themes; Civilized and Uncivilized (behaviors, language), Freedom and Constraint (physical, mental), Superstition and belief, Education and Ignorance, Internal and external conflict, Abuse and compassion (verbal, physical, mental). The activity was a valuable tool to help students understand the motives of the Author, Mark Twain in writing “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”