Walden

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY 1: “Transcendental Club”

Thoreau was part of a 19th century philosophical movement called transcendentalism, which consisted of five basic principles: 1) nonconformity, 2) importance of nature, 3) individual spirituality (as opposed to organized religion), 4) simple living, and 5) self-reliance.

Recreate a setting for the Transcendental Club, a group of 19th century intellectuals and writers who met to discuss their beliefs and work. Take on the persona of one of the club’s members, present an excerpt from that member’s writing or lectures, and discuss how the excerpt addresses one or more of the principles of transcendentalism.

Teaching Suggestion: Discuss with students that one of the primary leaders of the transcendentalist movement was Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose essay “Nature” (1836) was the impetus for Thoreau to live out the principles of transcendentalism in a cabin he built on Emerson’s woodland property at Walden Pond. The following resources will help students prepare for the activity:

• This U.S. History webpage defines transcendentalism and identifies prominent transcendentalist writers. 
• This webpage provides a listing and biographies of the