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3 Favorite Activities for an Outsiders Novel Study

By  MARISSA DESPINS  Updated Nov 20, 2023

Outsiders Novel Study Activities

Those of you who have been following along for a while know how passionate I am about novel studies. The Outsiders has been a universal favorite with my students since my student teaching days. In fact, it was the very first novel study I ever taught! Engaging and relatable characters combined with a plotline that is both dramatic and emotional makes it a favorite with both avid and reluctant readers. Today I share three of my favorite activities for an Outsiders novel study . All have been classroom tested and given the big thumbs up from my middle school learners.

Looking for a COMPLETE unit to use along with this engaging novel? Click on the image or button below to grab over 125 pages of activities!

3 favorite activities for an outsiders novel study

A novel study is so much more than a stack of comprehension questions! Don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe that comprehension questions have their place and are important ways to assess understanding. That being said, it is important to mix in a variety of different activities to spice things up and build engagement. The following activities are three of my favorites.

The Outsiders Novel Study – Character Analysis

One of my favorite activities when teaching a novel study involves really digging deep into character development. Who are the characters? What motivates them? What are they struggling with? Why do they act the way they do? These are all important questions for students to answer if they hope to thoroughly understand a complex text.

Throughout the novel, Ponyboy goes through a variety of internal and external conflicts. Understanding these conflicts, and the way Ponyboy responds to them, give readers a lot of valuable insight into his character.

This graphic organizer is one of my favorites for character analysis, as it allows students to record the different internal and external conflicts they notice while reading. I have my students record the things they notice during our independent reading time, and then share them with the class during group discussion. This allows us to review their findings, and also helps those students who may have missed one of the conflicts while reading.

I find this organizer especially helpful because students can add to it throughout the novel study. Instead of being something that is simply “one and done”, students can go back and record new findings as they work their way through the book.

Click here to snag this activity to use in your classroom!

For more dynamic and engaging ways to explore character analysis, take a look at these  Character Analysis Activities , perfect for bringing depth to your students’ understanding of The Outsiders characters.

the Outsiders Novel Study – Symbolism Illustrations

Symbolism can be tricky to teach, but is a super important concept for students to grasp. Student’s need to understand the ways that authors use symbols in their writing to allude to feelings, moods, or attitudes, without directly stating it.

Author’s often use symbolism to support a story’s theme in a subtle manner. If you have read my previous post on theme, you know how important it is for students to have an understanding of this concept.

There are three main symbols in The Outsiders. These symbols include:

Sunrises and Sunsets: In the novel, sunrises and sunsets represent the goodness in the world.  No matter how bad things may seem, the sun still rises and sets.  Johnny recites the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and compares it to the sunsets Ponyboy enjoys.  He encourages Ponyboy to “Stay Gold”, and keep seeing the beauty in the world.  Ponyboy and Cherry both appreciate the sunset, even though they are from different social classes.  Too much time is spent noticing the differences in people, instead of finding the common ground.

The Blue Mustang: The wealth of the socs in comparison to the poverty of the greasers is represented by the blue mustang.  It is an ominous symbol, because when the blue mustang is present, the greasers know trouble is coming. Later in the novel, Ponyboy begins to see the commonalities between the two groups, and the mustang loses some of its intimidating qualities.  This can be seen when Ponyboy sits in it when talking with Randy.

Greaser Hair: The hair of the greasers is symbolic of their identities within the gang.  It is a commonality they all share, and ties them to the group.  It marks a clear distinction between them and the socs.  By attempting to cut off Ponyboy’s hair at the start of the novel, he is making an attack on the group as a whole. Later in the novel, Ponyboy and Johnny cut and dye their hair.  This clearly shows the ways their characters developed during the time spent in the church, and the ways their individual personalities are starting to shine through. 

For this activity , students are required to illustrate and describe the three main symbols. It is is a great activity to encourage students to support their answers with text evidence. The artistic component helps build engagement. Completed worksheets make great additions to interactive notebooks!

Click here to grab this activity from my TPT shop!

Alongside exploring these symbols, delve into the realm of figurative language with these  5 Tips for Teaching Figurative Language , enhancing your students’ ability to interpret and appreciate the nuances in literature.

The Outsiders Novel Study – 5W’s News Report

This is a super fun way to revie w the important events of the novel in a creative way. To complete the activity, students take on the role of news reporters. Their job is to interview key characters from the novel.

As they work through their interviews, students focus on the the 5Ws of Who, What, Where, When, and Why. It is a fun way to get students out of their seats and presenting in front of their peers. I like to save the presentations until the very end of the unit. Then, I bring in snacks and organize a “viewing party”. It is a fun way to celebrate student work throughout the unit.

Click here to pick up a copy of this resource to use with your learners!

Interested in trying these activities out with your learners?

You can snag the complete unit from my TPT shop by clicking here or on the image below.

Want to see the novel study in action? Check out the video below!

Looking for more engaging novel study ideas?

Check out my previous posts about novel studies below.

3 Dystopian Novel Studies for Middle School

Benefits of Teaching Novel Studies

Favorite Middle School Novel Studies

How to Plan a Novel Study: Choosing Activities

What is a Novel Study?

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Easily Plan your Unit on The Outsiders (+ Free Final Project)

• April 25, 2018

The Outsiders is an ideal book for the ELA classroom. Don’t you agree? The novel, about a teenage boy who questions the divisions – social, political, economical – of the society he’s trapped in, is wildly engaging for students. The voice is gripping, real, honest. Probably because the book was actually written by a teenager dealing with truly difficult experiences.

Like so many of our students.

Though the book is at a relatively easy reading level, it’s a great option for hooking kids who have defined themselves as non-readers. And it’s quite the platform for discussing things that matter to our kids – the ways they define themselves, the raging social divisions going on around them, the complexities of being a teenager.

If you’re lucky enough to get to add it to your curriculum, it lends itself to SO MANY wonderful creative activities! Here are ten to make your unit planning easy peasy. Sprinkle these in between your discussions and you’ll be set for a fabulous unit. And don’t miss the free final project, integrating STEM + ELA, at the end of the post.

#1 The Open Mind When you’re looking to get students thinking deeply about characters, consider an activity I call “The Open Mind.” Either assign students a character, or let them choose one they are most interested in. Then ask them to go inside that character’s head, creating a page of sketchnotes that go deep with the relationships, crucial life events, dreams, and developments relating to that character. Ask them to include several quotations.

#7 Peacemakers Presentations Ponyboy is a peacemaker. Despite all that he has been through, he builds bridges. One great extension activity would be to have students research other peacemakers, creating a wall of peace in your classroom with visual displays on great leaders of peace throughout history.

Suggest people like:

• Mahatma Ghandi
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Nelson Mandela
• Desmond Tutu
• Malala Yousafzai
• Aung San Suu  Kyi
• Jane Addams

#8 “This I Believe” Essay for Ponyboy

You know how I feel about PBS’ “T his I Believe” curriculum (LOVE). Writing personal belief essays is a great activity with any class, but it also functions well as an activity for a literary character. Ponyboy has a strong mind of his own, and his beliefs get clearer and clearer as the book progresses. Asking him to write a “This I Believe” essay in the style of the PBS radio series, focusing in on one crucial belief with lots of specific, detailed anecdotes and examples to support the power of that belief, would be a great activity for an Outsiders unit.

#9 Bring in a Touch of Transcendentalism

Ponyboy walks his own road. It’s not too hard to connect his story to the transcendentalist movement. I especially like to bring in one quotation by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Ask students to consider the meaning of this quotation, and how the different characters in the book stack up to it. Who is willing to let their views change when confronted with new ideas and circumstances? Who grows instead of stagnating? What characters cling to their consistency and small-mindedness?

#10 Create the App Final Project

Particularly if you’ve already experimented with the critical thinking required for One-Pagers and This I Believe essays, you may wish to do a creative final project for the novel rather than an essay. Build a bridge to the ever-popular themes of STEM by launching your students into an app creation project. Have them imagine they are Ponyboy, creating an App that would help real people break down the barriers between them. You can download this final project completely free here .

I’ll help you find the creative ELA strategies that will light up your classroom. Get ready for joyful teaching!

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21 The Outsiders Activities for Middle Schoolers

September 6, 2022 //  by  Katherine Monsen

I remember reading The Outsiders in middle school and while it was okay, I think that it would have been more engaging if there were more activities done with it, aside from the written comprehension questions and essay. Some are free and some aren't, so you may have to pick and choose, but in my opinion, they are all fabulous resources that I would use with my students. Enjoy and happy reading!

1. Anticipation Guide

A quick anticipation guide can be a great pre-reading activity. It could be done independently or in a discussion format, depending on how much time you have for it. Personally, I would have students answer independently, then share their thoughts in a small group, but you could also make it a whole class activity.

Learn more: Poster 4 Teachers

2. 1960's Scavenger Hunt

This digital pre-reading activity is great because it introduces the time period to kids so they have a better understanding of what's happening while reading and also teaches online research skills. I feel like kids are out of touch with how things were before their time, so this activity can really ground them with relatable ideas. The link is for the word document, which I would shorten a bit, in the interest of time.

Learn more: Chloe Min

3. First Impressions

First impressions can often lead kids to stereotype without getting to know someone. In this pre-reading activity, students will get to discuss their thoughts on images, which hopefully leads to them realizing that we can't always judge a book by its' cover. It compares modern photos with some of the book characters too.

Learn more: Ms. SM'S English Classes

4. Pop! Characterization

Kids will be head over heels for this activity! Funko Pop! figurines are being collected like crazy, so this task will be easy to set up and get going for them. It's a creative way to do character analysis and engaging for kids that like to draw. They can choose their favorite characters to draw and write about or be randomly assigned.

Learn more: Laura Randazzo

5. Who Would You Choose?

It may look like this activity is just a character analysis graphic organizer, but there is also a second part. Students use their character notes and the book to decide which character they would choose to help them in certain situations and then have a class discussion to explain how they made their decision.

Learn more: How To Teach a Novel

6. Symbolism Bookmarks

Understanding symbolism is difficult for many kids and it is prevalent in literature. For an activity after students finish reading, this one is helpful. The slides are included, so just download and away you go. In the end, students will end up with a bookmark too.

Learn more: Slideshare

7. Hercules Book Report

When you go to the link, you'll be able to get a copy of the assignment sheet sent to your Google Docs. The original assignment gave 3 options on presentation formats, but I am partial to Bloom Balls, which takes the traditional book report and breaks it into manageable pieces while allowing for creativity. Any way students present the information, this is a great review activity.

Learn more: Mr. Hudyman

8. The Outsiders One Pager

Final book projects don't have to take an extended period of time to complete. This one-pager can be done in 2-3 class periods and still requires in-depth analysis and creativity. The final product can be used as an eye-catching classroom display. I like how it asks kids to analyze the book in a unique way.

Learn more: Teach Sparkle Pop

9. Activity Pack

If you're looking for a full unit of activities that just need to be copied, then look no further. This downloadable book has everything you need, broken down by chapter. You can also get a printed copy or 30 copies of the book along with the activity pack. If you have the budget for it, then this will be a lifesaver.

Learn more: Prestwick House

10. Novel Unit

This is a free fabulous unit plan with all printouts included in pdf. It is from a school in Kentucky and includes everything you need, including standards and discussion questions. The wanted poster activity seems like a fun activity that kids will be engaged in as well.

Learn more: Raechel Cowell, Terri Smith, Karen Johnson

11. Teaching the Outsiders for Engagement and Inclusion

This engaging package is unlike the others and really caught my attention. It makes kids think outside the box and brings diversity into the book, where there isn't any seen. These 4 activities will surely grab your students' attention.

Learn more: Nouvelle ELA

12. Crossword Puzzle

Sometimes we need a quick extension activity, review activity, or something for early finishers. Here you can customize the crossword puzzles and give students something meaningful to work on.

Learn more: Word Mint

13. Newspaper Writing

Looking for a creative writing activity ? Here's a great one! It comes with all the graphic organizers you need as well. It will take some time to complete, but can be classwork and homework.

Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers

14. Comprehension Questions

These questions can be answered either in person or virtually on Google Classroom, which is great considering all that's going on in the world. There are over 100 questions included, so you'll have everything you need for the entire book.

Learn more: Simply Novel

15. Figurative Language

What a great resource this is. It includes video clips and digital activities for students to complete. They focus on 5 different figurative language components and provide everything you need, which makes this a great assignment.

Learn more: PBS Learning Media

16. Storyboards

Students can create storyboards for 7 different activities, which include plot diagrams, themes, symbols and motifs, characters, conflict, narrative adaptation, vocabulary, and a wanted poster. I love that they allow for creativity without the demand for students to be artistic. Ponyboy Curtis would approve of these activities.

Learn more: Storyboard That

17. "Some Novel Ideas"

A veteran teacher shares her thoughts and activities she uses and includes links to explain activities or provide the files she mentions. Her introduction to the activities is so relatable as well.

Learn more: Some Novel Ideas

18. Collaborative Poster

This activity is in response to Robert Frost's poem "Nothing Can Stay Gold". Students will answer why Ponyboy reads this poem in the book and then students will get to each color a piece that will end up being assembled into one poster. This is such a creative activity!

Learn more: Study All Knight

19. Vocabulary Activities

Unlike some vocabulary activities , this one is text-dependent and utilizes text-based sentences, questions, and definitions. It would be beneficial in a digital classroom as well. It can be done in a little bit of time each day.

Learn more: Teacher Created Materials

20. Conflict Foldable

This activity is a bit more basic, but still teaches a valuable lesson about the types of conflict seen in The Outsiders. Students are asked to find scenes in the book that demonstrate each type of conflict.

Learn more: Think. Live. Be... Positive

21. Characterization Quick Write

I saved my favorite activity for last. The author randomly assigned characters, which is probably the quickest way to begin. There is a graphic organizer to complete as planning for the final product. This is definitely an activity that will grab the attention of most kids.

Engaging Activities for Teaching The Outsiders

When I learned I’d most likely be teaching The Outsiders this year, I was a little skeptical. Only vaguely remembering the book from when I read it, I was totally judging the book by its publication date and the dust on its cover. Truth be told, I was wondering how in the world I’d sell my tough-to-please 8th graders a story about a kid named Ponyboy in 1960s Oklahoma. But I resolved to reread the book with an open mind and just see. Maybe I would teach it, maybe I wouldn’t.

It took me just a few pages to remember how much I loved Ponyboy as a narrator and just why this story continues to resonate with teenagers decades later. T he Outsiders has that unique written-by-a-teenager magic that I wish I could bottle up and sprinkle on everything in my classroom library. And while I don’t ever want to be a teenager again, remembering what it felt like was pretty powerful. It made me want to teach this book and do it justice, too. So I got to work planning engaging lessons and activities that would extract all the juicy goodness from this timeless classic. And the rest was history: I planned and taught a unit that would stay gold for my students, half a century after this book was published. 

Together, we empathized with Ponyboy’s struggles, explored the idea of identity, learned from Ponyboy’s curiosity and empathy, admired sunsets, brainstormed how to overcome stereotypes, mourned the death of Johnny, and cherished the “gold” in our lives. Oh yeah, and we hit all of the big standards and skills, too! 

The Outsiders is pretty powerful, but if you’ve been teaching it for years, you’re teaching it for the first time, or you’re just not feeling your lesson plans, you might want to add a little dash of “gold” to keep it fresh. Whether that’s a unique, kinesthetic lesson, a new nonfiction pairing to spark some brilliant connections, or a creative twist on your typical comprehension questions, I’ve got you covered with fresh, new lesson ideas.

If you’re ready to revitalize your unit on The Outsiders and make the novel even more engaging and relevant for your students, here are 10 of my favorite activities.

PRE-READING LEARNING STATIONS

Learning stations are my favorite strategy for hooking my students before reading and building essential background knowledge, and The O utsiders is no exception! In fact, I think a good hook activity is even more important with a book like this so students aren’t judging it by its cover and/or setting. No offense, but 1960s Oklahoma has never been on my students’ reading radars. But do you know what will register on their radars? The ridiculous-sounding slang! So I take advantage of that and use it to reel readers in through a well-designed set of learning stations. Not only do these stations spark students’ curiosity before they read a single page, but they also equip students with the pre-reading information they need to start the book strong.

Here’s what my learning stations for The Outsiders look like:

• Students preview and discuss essential questions with an anticipation guide
• Students “meet” Ponyboy and make inferences from provided excerpts
• Students sample some of the fun 1960s slang in The Outsiders
• Students learn about the coming-of-age genre and make connections
• Students preview the Greaser vs. Soc conflict

Click HERE to see a video of these stations in action in my 8th-grade classroom! As you can see, these station tasks engage students and help the class start the novel with a strong foundation. These print/digital pre-reading learning stations are available separately or bundled with other resources for The Outsiders HERE.

For more information about pre-reading activities and creating your own learning stations, check out the following blog posts:

• 5 Engaging Ideas for Pre-Reading Activities
• 10 Reasons to Implement Learning Stations
• How to Create Engaging Learning Stations
• How to Facilitate Successful Learning Stations
• 10 Ideas for Virtual Learning Stations

CHARACTER REPORT CARDS

It can be challenging for students to keep all the characters straight at the beginning of The Outsiders . To help students dig into the most important characters in a unique, memorable way, try assigning Character Report Cards. This activity is exactly what it sounds like: students “grade” characters on different categories, like intelligence and loyalty, and then cite examples/evidence to support the grades. This lesson is a great way to spark discussions about the moral complexity of the characters and their relationships with each other. Students love the chance to be the teacher and assign “grades” to the characters. You’ll be surprised at just how willingly they will cite textual evidence to support a failing grade! (Rarely do middle schoolers cite evidence without complaining…)

After you do this activity, you can connect it to stereotypes and labels! Essentially, you are asking students to judge characters based on the little information they have after a few chapters. As students continue to read the novel, encourage them to return to the report cards and reevaluate the grades they gave each character. 

CHARACTERIZATION & FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE QUESTION TRAIL

As I mentioned, digging into characterization at the beginning of The Outsiders is crucial. But instead of assigning worksheets, keep the momentum strong with an engaging question trail over the characters and the figurative language SE Hinton uses to describe them. If you’re unfamiliar with the wonderful question trail strategy, it’s a unique, kinesthetic activity that gets students up and moving around the classroom on a quest to complete a “trail” of multiple-choice questions.

During this lesson, different questions are posted around the room. Each question answer (A, B, C, D) sends students to a different question “on the trail,” so if students answer each question correctly, they complete a full circuit. But if students answer a question incorrectly, they’ll end up at a question they’ve already been to, which is their cue to backtrack and problem-solve. This means that question trails give both teachers and students clear, immediate feedback. It’s engaging and effective…a win-win! If this question trail idea sounds a bit complicated, I promise you it’s easier in person. And it’s easiest when you can use an already-organized and student-ready trail, like this one for Chapters 1-3 of The Outsiders. You can find this resource available separately or in my unit bundle for the book.

For more information on question trails:

• Click HERE to watch a quick video on this lesson
• Click HERE to learn about how to create your own question trail
• Click HERE to check out a blank question trail template for any text, skill, or subject

BOB’S DEATH: BLAME CHART

The murder of Bob the Soc propels the plot of The Outsiders, so it’s important to pause and process after this key event. One creative way to get students critically thinking about this scene is through a “Blame Chart,” where students analyze the different sources of conflict that lead to Bob’s death. Obviously, Johnny is physically responsible for Bob’s death, but any good reader knows there are multiple factors playing into the murder. Students always have strong opinions on whether the murder was self-defense and enjoy discussing their pie charts after this activity. This lesson is also a great way to spark predictions for future chapters and discuss how everything goes back to the Greaser vs. Soc conflict.

PONYBOY’S CHANGING PERSPECTIVE ACTIVITY

Studies have shown that drawing can help with memory and comprehension, so I always like to incorporate a little room for creativity and sketching during my novel units. (Stick figures are welcome!) Since The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel that follows Ponyboy as his perspective changes, it only makes sense to challenge students with the task of pinpointing his perspective shifts. To do this, ask students to consider what impacts Ponyboy’s perspective the most. Then, give students a graphic organizer with space for them to visually represent the moments that impact Ponyboy’s perspective the most. This activity sparks some incredible discussion, and it’s interesting to see how students approach it. Some end up focusing on events that impact Ponyboy, while others focus on relationships with other characters. 

This activity is great because it gets students thinking about the most important characters and parts of the plot that ultimately contribute to the themes of the novel. The more you discuss throughout the text, the easier it will be for students to analyze the development of themes at the end of the book!

FUNERAL FOR JOHNNY: EULOGIES & ELEGIES

I’ve been doing character funerals ever since my days of teaching The Great Gatsby in high school (RIP, old sport), and they’re always one of the most memorable lessons of the unit! It feels cruel to keep on reading, business as usual, after a character passes away, so it only makes sense to put the novel on pause and host a funeral.

This is exactly what we do after Johnny passes away at the end of Chapter 9 of The Outsiders . Before the funeral, students write eulogies or elegies from the point of view of Ponyboy or Dally. During the funeral, I pass out funeral “programs” (to sneak in some learning) and students can volunteer to dramatically read aloud their eulogies and elegies during our class service. This lesson is also a great time to return to the “Nothing Gold Can Stay” poem and start thinking more about the themes of the novel.

RELEVANT NONFICTION PAIRINGS

When it comes to The Outsiders , the possibilities for nonfiction pairings are endless! There is simply so much you can discuss when it comes to this book: stereotypes, empathy, identity, grief, group behavior, and more! I’ve rounded up multiple texts that you can pair with The Outsiders , and you can find lessons for each in my unit bundle. Here are a few of my favorites:

• “The Danger of A Single Story” TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: We watch this before reading the book, but you could play it at any point during the novel for some great connections to stereotypes and Ponyboy’s perspective.
• “How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes” mini-podcast episode from NPR: This is quick but powerful, so I highly recommend giving it a listen and using it in your classroom. This story illustrates the power of relationships and interpersonal curiosity when it comes to overcoming stereotypes.
• “How to Be More Empathetic” guide from WebMD: This article is perfect for helping students recognize the strategies Ponyboy is using to gain empathy for Socs like Bob and Randy. It works well after Ponyboy sees Bob’s picture in the yearbook and finally sees him as a fellow human being.

SPEED DISCUSSION

So you’ve finished the book…now what? With a book so rich in life lessons like The Outsiders, the post-reading phase of your unit can be overwhelming. How do you do a book like this justice? How can you help students understand the enduring themes and appreciate the story as a whole? There’s so much you can discuss, but before you try to host that magical whole class discussion, soft-launch it with speed discussion! This strategy will get every student engaged at the same time and help readers think through important questions before a whole-class discussion.

During this activity, students discuss different questions with different peers during different rotations of discussion. In each “round” of discussions, students rotate to a new peer and discuss a new question. This means that by the end of class, students will have interacted with at least a dozen peers and discussed a dozen questions (or more, depending on your class periods). It all adds up to a lot of low-risk discussion practice

Speed discussion is always an engaging, effective lesson, but it’s especially helpful as a review before a literary analysis essay, final test, project, or Socratic Seminar. It gets students thinking about the big ideas, themes, and the So what? after reading!

BOOK COVER GALLERY WALK

One perk of The Outsiders’ 1967 publication date is the fact that so many different covers of the book have circulated since then. And a plethora of book covers makes for the perfect lesson: a book cover gallery walk! To do this lesson, pull some book covers from Google Images, print them out, and hang them around your classroom. You can frame your gallery walk with any question/s you’d like, but I like to structure it with my favorite open-ended question: “What do you notice?” You can see the graphic organizer I give students below. This activity sparks such powerful discussions and helps students better understand the theme, symbolism, and author’s purpose!

MOVIE ANALYSIS

Anytime I teach a novel with a film adaptation, I’m all about showing that movie in class–not just for fun, but to engage students in meaningful film analysis. Teaching students how to analyze a movie is an engaging, accessible way to scaffold the challenging skill of literary analysis. With thoughtfully crafted questions, helpful modeling, and a strategic approach, students can analyze a movie just like they’d analyze a text. By switching out your comprehension-based “viewing guides” for thoughtful film analysis worksheets, you will prompt much more critical thinking and spark rich discussions about the text and film adaptation. 

In addition to asking students to compare/contrast the text and the film, try asking them why they think the film directors made certain changes and how these changes affect the audience. These kinds of questions spark more thoughtful insight and engaging discussions.

The Outsiders is especially perfect for this because you can show the extended “full novel” version but ask questions about scenes that were deleted from the original version. This will prompt students to think about how scenes impact the story and its themes.  For print/digital worksheets with these types of questions, check out my film analysis worksheets available separately or in my unit bundle.

I hope these lesson ideas help you bring new life to this classic. For more engaging activities and resources for teaching The Outsiders, check out this unit bundle full of print/digital learning stations, quickwrites, creative activities, vocabulary resources, and more.

To see some of this unit in action, check out these Instagram posts for more info:

• How I Launched Our Unit on The Outsiders
• Pre-Reading Learning Stations
• The Outsiders: Reading Schedule
• Engaging Activities for Chapters 1-4 of The Outsiders
• Character Report Cards
• Characterization/Figurative Language Question Trail
• Engaging Activities for Chapters 5-9 of The Outsiders
• Engaging Activities for Chapters 10-12 of The Outsiders
• The Outsiders: Novel Unit

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The Outsiders Lesson Plans | Entire Novel Study

This lesson is  Background Information for the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton.

The focus of this lesson includes history of the 1960s and topics like culture, style, music, and cars.

Before reading the novel  The Outsiders , familiarize your students with the culture of the time period as  The Outsiders  is set in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this lesson, your students with be engaged as they take notes from a Powerpoint presentation and answer questions using the accommodating worksheet provided. Students will learn about the history of the 1960s, the clothing of the generation, the music the youth listened to, and other important details from the novel such as: car models, Paul Newman, hitchhiking, and drive-in movie theaters.

Students will also be introduced to the author S. E. Hinton, the gang rivalry present in the novel  The Outsiders , and the genre of Coming of Age literature.

Students will end this lesson with a quick write where they will actually read an excerpt from the story and answer a related prompt.

Have your students answer serious questions about life in order to build anticipation  before reading The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton.  These open-ended questions will be sure to get your students’ wheels turning and will help bridge connections to the themes in the novel.

After your students are done reading the entire novel, have them reflect on the literature with these  open-ended questions for after reading.

These reflection questions will open up wide conversations and discussions amongst students as well as help them digest and analyze the literature.

Teach your students the  Slang Words and Phrases from the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton  to enhance comprehension and understanding of the plot as well as the time period the novel is set (Oklahoma 1950s).

This activity can work for BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER reading.

Two graphic organizers are included; each make it easy to teach students the definitions of slang terms used throughout the novel. The first graphic organizer is a fun way to prepare students for the novel by having them guess the meaning of each slang word before telling them the actual meaning. The second graphic organizer is a great way to review the text during or after reading as it includes the quote and chapter number where each slang term is used. Answer keys provided.

Also included is a Powerpoint presentation that contains all slang words or phrases with their definitions.

If you are working on a  novel study for  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, these Vocabulary Lists, Practice Activities, and Quizzes  will work perfectly for you!

There are three sets of vocabulary words, divided by chapters. I’ve created graphic organizers for every chapter of words, which includes the definition, part of speech, line from the novel, and the students’ definition in their own words.

Additionally, I have created corresponding practice activities for students to actually use the words independently before being tested on them.

There are three separate quizzes, divided by chapters that require students to use their comprehension skills. The tasks included ensure students will understand the context of each word in a sentence as well as how to write their own sentences using said vocabulary words.

ANSWER KEYS INCLUDED FOR ALL!

If you are doing a novel study for  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, these Before Reading activities  can aid your students with engagement and reading comprehension. Using the word splash technique, students will  make predictions  about what each new chapter will be about.

Students will connect the words provided in the word splash to what they already know and what they’ve been reading in the novel  The Outsiders.  Making predictions is a fun exercise and builds anticipation for students.

Included in this purchase are 12 individual  journal prompts  based on each chapter of the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton.  These journal prompts are meant to be used at the end of every chapter.

Students will reflect on what they’ve just read by connecting their personal opinions and feelings with the major conflicts of each specific chapter. Each prompt is ready to print individually or as a packet!

While completing a novel study for the book  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, have your students answer reading comprehension questions for every chapter  using this organized packet.

Included are 12 sets of questions (for every chapter) which analyze character motives, themes, symbols, irony, dialogue, and basic comprehension of the plot. Detailed answer keys are provided for all questions.

If you want to make sure your students are following along and completing the reading for the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, these simple Reading Checks or Quick Chapter Quizzes  are the way to go! This product works well if your students are reading independently or if you are reading as a class.

These questions are recall questions that are meant to be brief and easy to remember. This is a tool used simply to check that students are completing the independent reading, comprehending the basic information, and/or paying attention during class.

The reading checks are divided by every 3 chapters (Chapters 1-3, Chapters 4-6, Chapters 7-9, Chapters 10-12). There are three different versions of every set of questions (a, b, and c). This is so you can use different quizzes for different classes and avoid cheating (students talk and share answers)!

This product is a Powerpoint presentation only.

To administer quizzes:

• project the questions on your board for students to see
• have students use scrap paper or lined paper to write their answers
• when everyone is done, have students grade each other’s answers by switching papers in class
• review the correct answers out loud and project them on the board
• collect graded quizzes

Answer keys included.

This lesson is a  poem analysis of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost . This is a perfect side activity for the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, but will also work on its own if you are looking just to teach about the poem itself.

In Chapter 5 of The Outsiders, Ponyboy recites the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay. This poem plays a major role in the novel as it represents the universal message to stay gold and stay pure. Have your students analyze the poem and build their comprehension; it will make analyzing the theme of the book much easier later on! The poem analysis will touch on important literary elements such as: rhyme scheme, tone, theme, metaphor, alliteration, allusion, imagery, and personification.

To enhance their learning and make the lesson more engaging, students will also study a poem with a similar theme. Students will listen to the Bob Dylan song, answer the questions, analyze the lyrics, and then compare and contrast the themes present in both texts.

Have your students analyze characters from  S. E. Hinton’s  The Outsiders  in a fun and engaging way:  Character Collabs !

Your students will use several  characterization  methods to depict each character’s profile, demonstrate their understanding of the literature, and present their final work on a beautiful poster.

This Body Biography Project  is a hands-on approach to learning that enhances retention and inspires students to tap into their creativity.

Students will engage with the novel on a deeper level, encouraging thinking critically, making inferences, and fostering empathy. Additionally, they will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication.

There are 10 characters from  THE OUTSIDERS  included in this resource:

• Bob Sheldon
• Cherry Valance
• Dallas Winston “Dally”
• Darrel Curtis “Darry”
• Johnny Cade
• Ponyboy Curtis
• Randy Adderson
• Sodapop Curtis
• Steve Randle
• Two-Bit Matthews

Teach your students to  analyze themes in the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton  with this lesson plan. Your students will determine what morals/lessons were learned or taught by specific characters in the novel; they will then evaluate how these lessons were incorporated by the author and provide textual evidence as support—all using a theme graphic organizer! An answer guide is provided for teachers.

Using their literary analysis, students will then write a TDA essay based on one theme of their choice from the novel. Students will choose a theme and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot. Rubric and essay prompt included.

After reading  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, have your students write a personal essay  of their choice using the two options provided. Essay rubrics, prompts, and brainstorming graphic organizers are included for both essay options.

Student choice allows students to pick the topic they are most comfortable talking/writing about. The prompts both relate directly to the novel (one about heroism and one about characterization).

Rubrics focus on: content, style, conventions, focus, and organization.

Each graphic organizer is designed to match the prompt and will guide students to write a cohesive five paragraph essay.

After your students read the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton,  have them complete a  Plot Diagram and Chronological Order Timeline.  These activities help students determine cause and effect relationships between specific events in the story. Finding textual evidence to fill out these charts also show students how and where certain elements of the story connect.

Students will analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop by identifying exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Students will also determine how the plot unfolds and how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. The timeline worksheet also aids students in reading comprehension. Answer keys are provided.

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton Character Comparison Game: Would You Rather?

You’ve probably played the simple game of WOULD YOU RATHER before… where you answer a series of questions that ask would you rather pick one thing or another? For example, would you rather be a SOC or be a GREASER?

In this activity, students will first answer a number of “would you rather” questions about themselves. Then, they will answer those same questions based on what they think Ponyboy Curtis would choose. This requires students to critically think about character motivations and personality traits—plus, it’s great fun.

Afterward, students will write about what they share in common with Ponyboy and how they consider themselves different.

In this lesson, have your students complete a  quote analysis  on the most important quotes in the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton.

Students can complete this activity independently or in groups. I include directions for a jigsaw activity which is a great cooperative learning strategy.

Included is a graphic organizer that divides important quotes by chapters and requires students to identify the speaker as well as explain the significance/ meaning of each quote.

Have your students  analyze symbols and motifs in the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton  using this graphic organizer.

Students will fill out a chart to identify important symbols and then explain the significance of each symbol or motif that is demonstrated in the story.

Answer key included!

Study the four types of  Conflicts from the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton.

Included in this lesson are the definitions and examples of internal and external conflict plus the four specific kinds of conflict:

1) Character vs. Self

2) Character vs. Character

3) Character vs. Nature

4) Character vs. Society

Students must look at examples of conflict from the novel and identify the conflict as one of the four types listed above.

Students must then support their answer with textual evidence.

Lastly students must explain how the conflict is resolved.

Answer key provided.

Analyze Figurative Language in The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton . Students will identify the type of figurative language being used in the quotes provided, and then explain each of their significance and meaning.

Figurative Language definitions are provided for: Allusion, Personification, Simile, Metaphor, Idiom, and Hyperbole.

Students will then write their own sentences using Figurative Language that highlight details from the novel  The Outsiders.

Answer keys provided.

If your class is reading the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton,  you will want them to  analyze the point of view  in the story, to include: what makes an unreliable narrator and what is biased perspective.

In this lesson, students will complete the following:

• Narrator Analysis: Students will analyze the narrator Ponyboy Curtis by considering his personality traits/ and characteristics. Answers included.
• Point of View Perspective Challenge: Students will take a look back at ten scenes from the novel, considering what facts they were given by Ponyboy alone. They will then consider how these events would be different or told differently if they were to take on a different character’s perspective. They will consider how other characters are feeling emotionally in these scenes or how they might feel in hypothetical situations.
• The Trial Point of View Analysis: Students will analyze the trial/hearing that takes place in the novel. Ponyboy is on trial for the murder of Bob, but readers do not hear much about it. Ponyboy was currently in a state of delusion and didn’t understand how the trial was unfolding. Students will write the testimonies of several characters as if they were him or her in court to either defend or defame Ponyboy.
• Constructed Response: Students will learn the definition of an unreliable narrator and reasons why a narrator’s perspective might be compromised. Then, students will write a constructed response that explains why Ponyboy could be considered an unreliable narrator using textual evidence. Possible answers included.

Have your students share their understanding of the novel  The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton  by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images based on information from the text. With this  one-pager reading comprehension project,  students will analyze the literature by determining theme, symbolism, characterization, and more. Students’ artwork make for unique and creative analyses of the literature and also make great bulletin boards!

Included in this purchase is:

• Student directions for the one pager project
• Rubric for the one pager project
• Example one pager
• 10 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable—optional)

Play Bingo with your students as a fun literature review game for the novel,  The Outsiders . This  character review game  includes at least 100 questions that entail information all about the characters from the novel. Questions range from physical appearances to quote identification to character motivation. With this many clues, you will have the opportunity to play SEVERAL rounds with your students without repeating questions. This game entails details from the entire novel  The Outsiders  and should be used as a review after the entire text is read (perfect for before a test). Bingo cards, character clues, and instructions are included. Bingo tokens are not included.

Characters that will be focused on include:

Your students are going to love deciphering and solving puzzles in this spectacularly themed,  The   Outsiders  360° digital escape room.  This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone. Students will solve a series of clues based on the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton in order to crack the master lock and escape the Socs! This game entails reading comprehension skills, finding textual evidence, and making inferences . It’s the perfect addition to your novel study, whether just for fun, or to use as a review activity before administering the final test.

Included in this download are teacher instructions, student instructions, the master lock graphic organizer, answer keys, and a reflection sheet (optional).

After a novel study with the book  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton, assess your students with a final test.  This product includes THREE versions of  The Outsiders  test including one  learning support adaptation  modified version.

I like to have multiple versions of tests so that students are less tempted to have “wandering eyes” during the exam. Version A and B are the same in format, but contain different questions, with some questions in different orders.

Version C of this test is adapted/modified for Learning Support students or students with IEPs. To make accommodations for my students in LS, I have chunked questions, added bigger spacing, bigger fonts, less answer choices, and reduced the number of directions in certain sections.

All tests are 50 questions. 20 questions are multiple choice, 5 are short answer, 9 are quote identification, 14 are true or false, and 2 are extended response questions.

Answer keys included for all.

Challenge your students to  analyze the film The Outsiders,  movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola   (1983) and compare/contrast important elements to the classic, coming-of-age novel  The Outsiders by S. E Hinton.

This lesson includes a packet for students to complete during or after viewing the film The Outsiders. Media analysis questions as well as compare/contrast prompts are included with answer keys. Additionally, students will complete an activity that requires them to choose their own celebrity cast of actors and actresses for a hypothetical reboot of The Outsiders film.

Enjoy this extensive  Novel Study  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton  with your students this year! Analyze the literature using these 25 products included in this complete  Unit Plan Bundle.

This novel study will allow students to develop their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills through the novel  The Outsiders  by S. E. Hinton.

You will have access to a multitude of before, during, and after reading activities like: quizzes, tests, projects, essays, reading questions, vocabulary, background information, plot diagram, graphic organizers, journal prompts, a movie guide, and a DIGITAL ESCAPE ROOM!

BONUS FILE:  Also included in this bundle is a 6 and a half week schedule for teachers to use as a pacing guide. Teacher plans are explained for each day as well as how to best utilize this bundle of products. There are so many choices, you really can personalize this unit plan however you’d like!

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S.E.HINTON'S

Novel unit plan.

Take your students on an unforgettable adventure with Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and the rest of the Greasers with this ready-to-use novel unit plan for  The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

You want ready-to-use materials that require no prep but still engage your students in rigorous, standards-based content, and highly engaging creative activities.

You are a middle or high school English language arts teacher who will be teaching this novel. 

who this unit plan is for.

If this sounds like you, then you are in the right place.

BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE DETAILS, LET'S TALK ABOUT

SO, WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE UNIT PLAN?

1. INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION

Who doesn't like a good deal, right i've reached out to some of my favorite education-related companies to offer exclusive discounts on items you may need for the classroom. there are discounts on teacher bags, library book stamps, custom pencils, lanyards, teacher t-shirts and much more .

The slideshow will hook students into reading the novel immediately, spark discussion, and provide students with useful information and practical context to prepare them to read. It includes group discussion questions, an interactive class activity, an examining the cover and making predictions activity, author biographical information, a quick-check quiz, relevant background information on the novel, historical context, and 1960s slang used in the novel.

2. Chapter Summary Cards

These 12 summary cards (one for each chapter of the novel) outline the most important elements of the plot. Simply print and cut, and you have a resource available that can be used by any student in the class.  • Use it as a teacher and student reference to locate events more quickly. • Find quotations for an essay more easily. • Help your struggling readers by letting them read the summary before reading. • Use it for students to check their understanding of the novel.

3. READING QUIZZES

These quizzes work well for a quick reading comprehension check after each chapter set. Each quiz includes six multiple-choice questions and two important quotes which show plot or character development. Students explain what was occurring at this particular part of the plot and what characters were involved. This resource also includes a detailed answer key, which makes for quick and easy grading or class review. 

4. VIDEO JOURNAL PROMPTS

For each chapter set, students watch a short video clip that connects to a theme or an important topic of the novel. This allows students to make connections and consider how the content or themes from the novel connect to the world today. After watching the short video clip, students will be given a writing prompt that bridges the gap between the video and their lives or the world around them. They will respond to that prompt in writing on the included response sheet.

5. VOCABULARY

This resource was designed to give students the tools and practice they need to determine the meaning of new vocabulary words in context. They will examine quotes from the novel that include challenging words, use strategies to decode what they think the definition is, and check to see if their definition is correct. There is a ready-to-use student vocabulary booklet, a slideshow to teach students how to determine the meaning of words in context, and a slideshow to review the actual definitions with the class.

6. READING QUESTIONS

Help your students examine the text more closely with these reading questions. The questions were specifically designed for comprehension and analysis. The questions are divided into sections (comprehension, digging deeper, and literary terms). Included is a student handout with all the chapter questions and presentation slides that include all the answers to the questions for easy review with the whole class. The answer keys are detailed with text evidence and quotes for support to show students a strong response.

7. ANALYSIS NOTES

Help your students understand the most important literary elements of the novel with this 24-slide analysis notes presentation. The slides were specifically created to discuss some of the most important aspects of the novel, spark discussion, or help students explore elements beyond the literal text. The notes are organized by chapter sets and address important story elements, literary devices, and important ideas in the novel, like characterization, theme, conflict, and symbolism.

8. ACTIVITIES & ASSIGNMENTS

15 Ready-to-use, interactive activities or assignments to bring your unit for The Outsiders to life. Students will absolutely love these activities and they will allow them to think deeper about story elements, make deeper connections with their own life and the world around them, and get up and moving within the classroom

Use the arrow below to get a closer look at each of the activities! 

After reading chapters 1-2 of The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, students will participate in an interactive activity that will help them examine their own identity, choose a group that they identify with, and consider what stereotypes or misconceptions exist about their group. This activity for The Outsiders is designed to help students empathize with the characters in the novel and examine the complexities of the theme of identity in the novel.

The Outsiders Examining the Theme of Identity Activity 

15 Ready-to-use, interactive activities or assignments to bring your unit for The Outsiders to life. Students will absolutely love these activities and they will allow them to think deeper about story elements, make deeper connections with their own life and the world around them, and get up and moving within the classroom.

After reading chapters 3-4 of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, students will participate in an interactive activity that will help them examine their own stereotypes and stereotypes made in the novel. This activity for The Outsiders is designed to help students empathize with the characters in the novel and examine the complexities of the theme of stereotyping in the novel.

The Outsiders Examining the Theme of Stereotyping Activity 

In chapter 5 of The Outsiders , Ponyboy recites the Robert Frost poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Use this class activity to engage your students in examining and analyzing the poem. Included is a presentation, poster, brainstorming page, and poetry analysis activity.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Poetry Activity

Ponyboy tells the reader about being interviewed by reporters while in the hospital visiting Johnny and Dally. Not much detail is provided on who is interviewed and what questions are asked, but the reader gets more insight into this in chapter 8. Students will write a transcript of the interview Ponyboy gives to the reporters based on the newspaper article from the novel!

The Outsiders Interview Assignment

Use this class activity for The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton to engage your students in exploring the similarities and differences between the Socs and Greasers! Students will become either a Soc or a Greaser and work together to expose the similar hatred each group feels for each other. Next, they will do a comparison activity that shows that the two groups are not so different after all.

Socs vs. Greasers Activity

In Chapter 1, students meet many of the main characters in the novel. Students will look for text evidence to share the characteristics, physical desriptions, personality traits, and important relationship connections of all the Greasers in Ponyboy’s gang. A detailed answer key is also provided.

The Outsiders Character Analysis

Students will plan and write a headline article for a newspaper for the day after Bob is killed. They will incorporate text evidence and focus on the facts of the event.

Newsworthy Article Writing

Playing on the Stay Gold quote from the novel, Students will find two quotes that they think are "golden." This means the quote is important to the theme, conflict, or characterization. They will write the quotes and explain why they are important to the novel.

The Outsiders Quote Analysis Assignment

After students have finished the novel, show them the film version with these intentional activities. Students will compare how the story is told in these two mediums by finding eight differences between the film and text versions. Then, they will write a movie review.

The Outsiders Movie Novel Assignments

Use this assignment as a way for students to review the plot line of The Outsiders . The resource includes a blank student version of the plot diagram for them to fill out and a detailed teacher answer key that makes for easy review or grading.

The Outsiders Plot Diagram Assignment

Skip the traditional character analysis with this fun alternative assignment! Have students give a Greaser two symbolic tattoos and explain their reasons with text support. Students will be required to show an understanding of symbolism as the tattoos must relate in some way to the greaser's personality or a theme that develops in the reading.

The Outsiders Tattoo a Greaser Assignment

Students will create a “Wanted Poster” for a character from The Outsiders . They will use the graphic organizer to fill in the information before working on their final poster. They will also draw or insert a photo of the character.

The Outsiders Wanted Poster Assignment

Have students choose a character from The Outsiders and design their social media page with a photo, information about them, what they feel at that moment in the text, and posts they have made or others have shared on their social media.

The Outsiders Fakebook Social Media Page

After students have read the novel, students can choose between the four final creative project options to respond to the novel. They can create a board game, develop an original soundtrack for the novel, record video diary entries from the perspective of a character, or rewrite a chapter from a different character's perspective.

The Outsiders Final Creative Project Options

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21 The Outsiders Activities for Middle Schoolers

• Middle School

Introduction:

The Outsiders, a novel by S. E. Hinton, is an engaging and thought-provoking story that is commonly taught in middle schools. Here is a list of 21 activities that will help students better understand and appreciate this timeless classic. These activities are designed to develop critical thinking, interpretation, and creativity skills in middle schoolers who are exploring the themes and characters of The Outsiders.

1. Character Analysis Collage: Have students create a visual collage representing one of the main characters in the novel.

2. Greasers vs. Socs Debate: Split the class into two groups representing the Greasers and the Socs, and have them participate in a structured debate about their differences.

3. Alternate Ending Assignment: Ask students to rewrite The Outsiders’ ending from a different character’s perspective.

4. Diary Writing Activity: Students write diary entries as if they were one of the characters from The Outsiders.

5. Plot Diagram Puzzle: Have students create a plot diagram using puzzle pieces to demonstrate their understanding of the story’s structure.

6. Create a Movie Poster: Students design a movie poster for The Outsiders, complete with catchy taglines, images, and creative billing.

7. Compare and Contrast Essay: Assign students to write an essay comparing and contrasting the lives of Ponyboy and Johnny.

8. Setting Exploration: Have students examine Tulsa’s geography to pinpoint key locations from the novel and understand their significance.

9. Socioeconomic Status Discussion: Initiate a guided class discussion on the impact of socioeconomic status on the characters’ decisions and development.

10. Symbolism Hunt: Conduct an active scavenger hunt for symbols present throughout The Outsiders.

11. Soundtrack Creation: Ask students to create an original soundtrack for The Outsiders, exploring songs reflecting themes or moments from the story.

12. Theme Analysis: Prompt students to analyze and discuss the novel’s themes in small groups.

13. Newspaper Article Assignment: Have students write a newspaper report on key events from The Outsiders.

14. Role-Play Activity: Students act out pivotal scenes from the novel, exploring character motivations and emotions.

15. Character Interviews: Assign students to write interview questions for other characters based on their understanding of the story.

16. Creative Writing Prompt: Ask students to develop a spinoff story focusing on one aspect of the novel’s themes or characters.

17. Book Jacket Project: Students design a new book jacket for The Outsiders, incorporating important thematic elements.

18. Poetry Analysis: Explore poems referenced in the novel and discuss their significance to the central themes.

19. Costume Design Challenge: Have students create costume designs for characters based on their descriptions in the novel.

20. Venn Diagram Comparison: Use a Venn diagram to compare The Outsiders with Hinton’s other work, Rumble Fish, highlighting similarities and differences.

21. Social Media Project: Students create social media profiles for the characters in The Outsiders, incorporating dialogue, images, and personality traits from the story.

Conclusion:

These 21 activities offer a dynamic approach to teaching The Outsiders by engaging middle schoolers in critical thinking and discussion about the book’s explorations of identity, loyalty, and socioeconomic status. Incorporating these activities into your lesson plans will deepen your students’ understanding of this influential novel and help them connect it to contemporary issues they face daily.

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Different Ways to Start Sentences

Bulletin Board Ideas

The Outsiders Teaching Activities

• By Gay Miller in Book Units

March 13, 2023

• Middle School Novel Study

Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=2399

• Yolonda on November 14, 2017 at 8:13 pm

From a teacher working hard the Tuesday before Thanksgiving week break, I LOVE this collection of foldables.

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Novel study: the outsiders by s.e. hinton.

Engage your students with these novel study worksheets for S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders . This set includes a pre-reading activity, discussion guides, post-reading activities, and extension activities, all designed to encourage critical thinking and support students' literacy development. As you read, be sure to explore The Outsider's vocabulary list on Vocabulary.com for novel-specific lists and practice.

Click on a worksheet in the set below to see more info or download the PDF.

Novel Study: The Outsiders: Pre-Reading Activity

Novel study: the outsiders: discussion guide #1, novel study: the outsiders: discussion guide #2, novel study: the outsiders: discussion guide #3, novel study: the outsiders: post-reading response prompts, novel study: the outsiders: poetry analysis of “nothing gold can stay”, novel study: the outsiders: greasers vs. socs, novel study: the outsiders: mirror and window identity activity, novel study: the outsiders: movie study, want to download this whole set as a single pdf, unlock worksheet sets.

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Lesson Plans and Resources for The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• Categories : English lesson plans for middle school
• Tags : Teaching middle school grades 6 8

Handy Resources

The Outsiders is one of my favorite novels to teach, because of its coming-of-age plot and memorable characters. How do you forget characters like Ponyboy, Sodapop and Dally?! Even though it was published during a time when most of my students parents weren’t even born, it inevitably becomes a fave of my students by the end of this unit.

I’ve found a formula for success when teaching this novel that has worked marvelously the past eight years…HAVE FUN WITH IT! We spend the first few days learning the background and setting of the book. Set in 1967, The Outsiders takes place during an era foreign to today’s middle schoolers. Learning about the sixties really is as abstract to them as learning about the 1860s. You have to take them back to the time of record players, Elvis, The Beatles, “tuff” cars, and Paul Newman. YouTube is an essential tool when teaching the background of the sixties. Simply typing in “1967” into the search engine brings up all kinds of stuff! Finding commercials, television shows, and movie clips set in the 60’s are great ways to introduce the groovy decade to your students.

I even have them take home a questionnaire for their grandparents with items like “What was your favorite memory about the 60’s?” or questions that ask them to recall memories of pop culture references in the book, like the Beatles, Elvis, and Paul Newman. Many amazing stories have been shared by grandparents of children in my classroom, and I like the fact that my students learn about aspects of their grandparents lives that they never knew existed!

Those are some ways to introduce the background of The Outsiders , but here are a few other resources you may find useful. A few are written by me, but many are created by other great writers at Bright Hub. Pick, choose, and enjoy!

Links to Amazing Resources for ‘The Outsiders’

• Teaching Background for the Novel - We discussed in the first section of this article the importance of teaching background for the year 1967.
• Discussing the Novel - This lesson plan, Teaching The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Discussion Questions by Kellie Hayden provides teachers with great discussion questions to implement while reading the novel. These questions would also be a great asset to book circle assignments.
• Character Analysis - Kellie Hayden also has a study guide for analyzing the characters of The Outsiders. The Outsiders Character Guide will help students to better understand the motives and traits for each character clique.
• “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Poem Analysis - Peter Boysen has a great lesson plan for teachers wanting to explore the use of the Robert Frost poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” in The Outsiders . This is a wonderful resource for adding enriching content to your Outsiders curriculum plans.
• Final Assessment Ideas - Looking for a fun, but meaningful way to wrap up the novel? This lesson plan will create competition but understanding amongst the students, causing them to truly identify with the plights of both Greasers and Socs. Read the lesson plans below for detailed instructions on how to host your own Greasers vs. Socs relay. The Outsiders Relay Challenge .

3rd Six Weeks Tips for Teachers

Novel study should be an interactive process for both the teacher and the student. ANY novel can come to life for your students if they see that you are truly engaged in the reading and that you LOVE what you are teaching. I know it is difficult to pull off an interested demeanor during the last period of the day when you’ve already read Chapter 3 five times!

Students are intuitive and they will cop an attitude of defiance and boredom if you assign them two chapters to read while you go sit at your desk and work on grades or catch up on emails. The Outsiders is a novel that promotes a wealth of opportunities to encourage your students to employ higher thinking skills and to engage them in meaningful and deep discussion.

My classes enjoy “circling up” to read the novel aloud and I very rarely assign independent reading because I want them TALKING and VERBALLY reflecting while we read. A worksheet cannot garner the intellectual results that a book discussion can. I start our novel study by leading discussions, then let my students take over by the middle of the story. They begin to figure out that during the natural pauses of reading they can ask questions and we can discuss situations unfolding within the story. I truly believe that this method of teaching a novel is what helps students latch on to and LOVE a novel. By the time we watch the theatrical version of the book, the students are hooked and eager to learn more about the characters they’ve come to love.

This post is part of the series: 8th Grade Reading Curriculum

This series of articles is designed to aide teachers in creating an effective and interesting curriculum that can be used for 8th grade Reading and English or any other middle school grade level.

• Curriculum for 8th Grade Reading
• Middle School Language Arts: Build on Literature With a Short Story Unit
• 3rd Six Weeks - The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Essential Resources to Teach the Holocaust Curriculum
• 5th Six Weeks: “Flowers for Algernon” Unit

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The outsiders activities

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The Outsiders FREE Novel Study Activity ! Fun Crossword Puzzle Review

The Outsiders Pre-reading Activity : Stereotypes

The Outsiders Slang Activity

Pre-reading activity ; " The Outsiders " Questionnaire

That's So Sixties_The Outsiders PreReading Activity

The Outsiders : Greasers or Soc? Writing Activity

The Outsiders Pre-Reading Activity

The Outsiders Tattoo Activity

The Outsiders by SE Hinton Chapter 1 Activity Bundle

The Outsiders : Movement/Intro Activity

The Outsiders Hero Activity

" The Outsiders " General Activities

The Outsiders Chapter 1 Activity

The Outsiders Case File and Poem activities

The Outsiders - Chapter 1 comprehension & close reading activities

The Outsiders Word Splash: Pre-Reading Activity

The Outsiders Wanted Poster Activity

The Outsiders : Skit and Slang Words Activity

The Outsiders Characterization (S.T.E.A.L Method) Activity

The Outsiders Characterization Drawing Activity

Vocabulary Building Activity for The Outsiders : Using Context Clues

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders Plot Chart Cut & Paste Activity EDITABLE

The Outsiders : "I Am" Poem Activity

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The Outsiders Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of social and/or class division in the novel. Is the rivalry senseless? What motivates the rivalry between groups?

Essay Topic 2

What elements in the novel make the story more real? Discuss elements like point of view, characters, and how thematic elements like violence are handled.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of the title of the novel. Who is an "outsider" throughout the story, and what makes that person an "outsider"? What other interpretations of the title are there?

Essay Topic 4

Explain the similarities between the greasers and the Socs. How are they not really all that different from each other? Why does each group think the other is better off? What specific events or conversations in the novel indicate that the two groups have some things in common?

Essay Topic 5

Describe the setting of the novel. What time period is it, and...

(read more Essay Topics)

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