In order to help students grasp Henry David Thoreau's concepts more easily, his writing can be divided into four main themes: simplicity, love of nature, following one's dreams, and following one's conscience. Once students have a general understanding of Thoreau's ideas, they can engage in many activities to express that understanding: write about the places that for them are like Walden, compare contemporary songs such as Madonna's "Material Girl" to Thoreau's ideas, build a scale model of Thoreau's house, spend time alone on a walk in the woods, or read related literary works such as "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail." The most successful writing exercise has students choose one of Thoreau's quotations, explain the quotation, give an example from life to support the quotation, give an example of a literary work or character that demonstrates the same idea as the quotation, and finally, explain the value of the main idea to society and to their personal lives. (An example of the final writing exercise is provided.) (SRT)