The Yellow Wallpaper

Grade 10 | Duration: 60 minutes | Class Size: 25 students

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Learning Objectives (I Can Statements)

• I can analyze themes such as mental health, gender roles, and freedom in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• I can identify and explain the symbolism in the story, especially the wallpaper itself.
• I can describe the historical context of the late 19th century America and how it influences the story.
• I can support my interpretations with evidence from the text.

Aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2: Determine a theme or central idea and analyze its development over the course of the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3: Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3: Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events.

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Materials Needed

• Copies of The Yellow Wallpaper (dyslexia-friendly format available)
• Projector or Smartboard for displaying images and historical timeline
• Graphic organizers (theme and symbolism charts)
• Colored pencils or markers
• Sticky notes

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Lesson Breakdown

1) Introduction & Historical Context (10 minutes)

Activity:

• Begin with a brief interactive presentation on the historical context of women’s mental health and gender roles in the late 1800s America.
• Include a visual timeline of relevant social norms and medical practices of the time (e.g., “rest cure”).

Teacher Prompt:

• “Why might understanding this historical background be important when reading the story?”

Differentiation:

• For ELL or struggling readers, provide a simplified handout summarizing the context.
• Use visuals for non-readers or those who benefit from imagery.

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2) Focused Reading & Dyslexia-Friendly Support (15 minutes)

Activity:

• Students read selected excerpts focusing on descriptive passages of the wallpaper and narrator’s mental state.
• Provide dyslexia-friendly print format (e.g., OpenDyslexic font, high contrast paper, larger spacing).
• Allow audio support for students who need it (read-along or recorded version).

Success Criteria:

• I can read and identify descriptive language related to the wallpaper.
• I can note any emotional changes or cues in the narrator’s journal entries.

Differentiation:

• Pair dyslexic students with peer reading partners.
• Provide text-to-speech devices or apps where available.

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3) Small Group Discussion – Themes & Symbolism (15 minutes)

Activity:

• Divide class into small groups of 4-5. Each group uses a graphic organizer to:
  • Identify and discuss two key themes.
  • Explore symbolism behind the wallpaper and other recurring images.
• Groups use sticky notes to record their ideas and share on a classroom board.

Success Criteria:

• I can discuss at least two themes and explain one symbol in the story.
• I can support my ideas using examples from the text.

Differentiation:

• Provide sentence starters for ELL students (“I think the wallpaper represents…”).
• Give advanced learners a prompt: “How does symbolism reflect the narrator’s mental state?”

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4) Whole Class Share & Teacher-Led Analysis (10 minutes)

Activity:

• Groups share their findings. Teacher synthesizes key ideas, emphasizing:
  • The wallpaper as a symbol of confinement and mental illness.
  • Themes of repression and gender roles in the 19th century.
• Connect themes to today’s conversations around mental health stigma and women’s rights.

Success Criteria:

• I can connect historical context to the story’s meaning.
• I can explain how symbols deepen understanding of themes.

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5) Extension & Reflection (10 minutes)

Extension Activities (for advanced learners):

• Write a brief reflection comparing the narrator’s experience with modern-day mental health portrayals in literature or media.
• Analyze a brief excerpt from a feminist critic of the story, discussing how interpretations have evolved.

Reflection Prompt (All Students):

• Write 3 sentences answering: “What does the yellow wallpaper symbolize in the story, and why does it matter to the narrator’s experience?”

Differentiation:

• Allow oral responses to a peer or teacher for students who struggle with writing.
• Use a graphic organizer to scaffold reflection responses.

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Assessment

• Informal assessment during group discussions and class sharing through observation and note-taking.
• Review of reflection sentences to gauge understanding of symbolism and themes.
• Optional exit ticket with 2 questions:
  1. What is one theme in The Yellow Wallpaper and evidence to support it?
  2. Explain what the wallpaper symbolizes.

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Differentiation Summary

Student Need	Strategy
Dyslexia & reading difficulties	Dyslexia-friendly formats, audio support, reading partners, text-to-speech tools
ELL/Struggling Writers	Sentence starters, simplified handouts, oral response options
Advanced Learners	Critical analysis of feminist perspectives, creative extension tasks
Visual Learners	Use of timelines, graphic organizers, visual aids

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• Did students make connections between historical context and story themes?
• Which differentiation strategies worked best?
• Were students able to articulate symbolism confidently?
• How might this lesson be adapted for a blended learning environment?

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This detailed, standards-aligned lesson plan aims to deepen student understanding of The Yellow Wallpaper through multimodal engagement, ensuring every learner accesses and interacts meaningfully with the text.