We're excited to share a new set of free lesson plans for The Giant Hoax by Kit Goldstein Grant, designed for flexible classroom use in ELA and theatre courses.
Download the free lesson plans using the button above!
The Giant Hoax is a musical comedy based on the true story of the Cardiff Giant, one of the most famous hoaxes in American history. When farmer William "Stub" Newell digs up a ten-foot stone figure and starts charging admission, a young girl named Emily runs away from home to see it, talks her way into a job as his apprentice barker, and befriends the Giant in her imagination. It's a show about wonder, deception, and the blurry line between a tall tale and a lie — funny, warm, and surprisingly moving.
What's Included in the Free Lesson Plans
- Pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions focused on truth, deception, imagination, and what we're willing to believe
- Character analysis activities exploring Emily's journey, Newell and Barnum's competing brands of showmanship, and the Giant's role as Emily's conscience and companion
- Cultural and historical activities introducing students to the real Cardiff Giant hoax, the world of 19th-century sideshows, and P.T. Barnum's career
- Creative activities including costume design, playlist curation, and an imaginary friend portrait
- Personal reflection prompts inviting students to consider their own experiences with belief, trust, deception, and growing up
- Assessment options for analytical writing, comparative essays, research, performance monologues, and design presentations
- Text connections to novels, plays, and films that explore wonder, illusion, and the ethics of a good story
These materials are designed to help teachers facilitate thoughtful discussion, critical thinking, and meaningful personal connections to the play.