Ender's Game Lesson Plan

Empathy for Killers

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Engage in discussion about some of the ethical issues involved in the novel, especially concerning killing.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4

Structure:

There are a lot of killers in Ender's Game. Encourage your students to consider how each killer represented in the novel is depicted sympathetically. The buggers killed many humans, but didn't know what they were doing and were horrified when they found out. Ender kills the buggers, but doesn't know it's not a simulation and that he is being manipulated. Ender also kills Stilson and Bonzo: his conscious...