Teachers: once again, we have your backs. Shmoop is here to help you do what you do best – connect with your students. We’ll arm you with current events items, juicy pop culture tidbits, lively classroom activities and assignments (based on state standards), and recommended readings. And we’ll save you a ton of time by providing expertly-crafted Reading Quizzes with Answer Keys and Essay Questions.

For the Dystopian fans in the house, this week is a doozy (and not in a bombers-buzzing-your-rooftop sorta way). 2 Orwell classics and Bradbury, to boot.

Teaching 1984, by George Orwell

• Sample Activity: Read an Orwell essay and respond to his reasons for becoming a writer

Teaching Animal Farm, by George Orwell

• Sample Activity: Make a soundtrack to Animal Farm

Teaching Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

• Sample Activity: Compare Internet censorship to Fahreneit 451

Teaching Fences, by August Wilson

• Sample Activity: Write a Blues song from a character’s perspective

Teaching Oedipus the King, by Sophocles

• Sample Activity: Make a music video for the Chorus

Teaching “A Rose for Emily“, by William Faulkner

• Sample Activity: Compare a classic rock and a modern rock song to the story