The Maze Runner Unit Plan – James Dashner Novel Study Reading Unit – Digital

This comprehensive The Maze Runner digital unit plan includes everything you need to confidently teach this fast-paced, action-packed novel from start to finish. With over 350 digital slides of engaging, ready-to-use lessons, activities, and assessments, this resource is designed to save you planning time while keeping students actively involved throughout the entire unit. It includes presentation slides to support instruction, comprehension and analysis questions, vocabulary activities, reading quizzes, video journals, and a variety of creative assignments that give students meaningful ways to apply their understanding. Each component of The Maze Runner novel study is organized to follow the progression of the novel, making it easy to guide students through the unfolding mystery of the Maze while building reading, writing, and discussion skills along the way.

This is a Google-compatible activity, and students complete all the work on the computer. This works well with distance learning, 1:1 classrooms, remote teaching, Google Classroom, or online education.

If you are looking for the print version of this unit, click here!

Included in The Maze Runner Digital Unit Plan:

➡️ The Maze Runner Introductory Presentation: This 20-slide Google Slides presentation is an engaging way to introduce your The Maze Runner unit plan to your students. The slides build background knowledge on the dystopian and action genres, the symbolism and history of mazes, and the novel’s author, James Dashner, while encouraging reflection and discussion through pre-reading questions, short activities, and guided conversation prompts.

➡️ The Maze Runner Chapter Summary Cards: These 63 digital summary cards break down the most important events and emerging ideas in each chapter of The Maze Runner. They are ideal for quick reference, small-group discussions, or supporting students who need help tracking plot developments as the mystery of the Maze unfolds.

➡️ The Maze Runner Quizzes: Assess comprehension throughout the novel with six section-based Google Forms quizzes, each including six multiple-choice questions and two short-answer quote analysis prompts. The multiple-choice questions are self-grading, and complete answer keys are included to support review and discussion.

➡️ The Maze Runner Digital Video Clip Journal Prompts: Help students make meaningful text-to-self and text-to-world connections with these reflective video journals. Each short video relates to a major theme from the novel, such as fear, identity, vulnerability, trust, human behavior, or facing challenges, and is paired with a thought-provoking writing prompt that encourages reflection and deeper engagement.

➡️ The Maze Runner Vocabulary Digital Booklet and Slides: Support vocabulary growth during your The Maze Runner unit plan through context-based learning. Students encounter unfamiliar words in quotes from the novel, infer their meanings using context clues, and then confirm definitions during class discussion or review using the included slides.

➡️ The Maze Runner Questions and Answers: Guide students through each section of the novel with a mix of comprehension and analysis questions. This digital resource includes a clearly organized student handout, dedicated response pages, and a presentation featuring text-based model answers to support both independent work and guided discussion.

➡️ The Maze Runner Figurative Language Assignments: Students identify and analyze examples of figurative language, including metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia, drawn directly from the novel. Six fully digital assignments are organized by chapter section and include detailed answer keys for easy review and discussion.

➡️ The Maze Runner Analysis Notes Presentation: This 57-slide Google Slides presentation examines key literary elements, including theme, symbolism, conflict, figurative language, and characterization. Organized by chapter sections, the slides highlight important moments from the text and can be used for discussion, direct instruction, or student note-taking.

The Maze Runner Digital Unit Plan also includes digital assignments and activities for each reading section. You can learn more about everything included below:

Chapters 1–8:

➡️ Digital Character Analysis Chart: Students track key characters throughout the novel by recording traits, relationships, and important actions as they read, helping them build a clear understanding of character development over time.

➡️ Glade Dictionary Vocabulary Digital Booklet: While they read, students create their own glossary of Glade-specific terms by using context clues and text evidence to define key vocabulary, strengthening comprehension of the novel’s language and setting.

➡️ Glade Map Setting Assignment: Students collect details about key locations in the Glade and use that information to create a labeled digital map, helping them visualize the setting and connect it to events in the novel.

Chapters 9–17:

➡️ Glade Jobs Ceremony: Students take on the role of new Greenies and participate in a job assignment ceremony based on roles from the Glade. After receiving their jobs, students reflect on their role in a Glade Job Journal or apply for a new assignment.

➡️ Ben’s Journal Creative Writing Activity: After Ben’s attack on Thomas, students write a journal entry from Ben’s perspective using text clues to explore his thoughts, motivations, and emotional state.

Chapters 18–28:

➡️ Digital Griever Night Simulation Activity: Students complete a series of timed maze challenges that simulate the pressure of being a Runner, then reflect on their decision-making, emotions, and performance under stress.

➡️ Greenie Survival Guide & Advice Video: Students create a digital survival manual for new Greenies and use it to produce a short advice video, applying their understanding of the Glade while practicing clear, purposeful communication.

Chapters 29–37:

➡️ Glade Apps Design Digital Activity: Students design original apps to solve problems in the Glade, connecting their ideas to key challenges in the novel while demonstrating understanding through creative, text-based solutions.

Chapters 38–51:

➡️ Intellectuals Digital Assignment: Students read through nonfiction biographies of famous thinkers and match each one to a character from the novel, using evidence to explore allusion and deepen their understanding of characterization.

Chapters 52–63 (Epilogue):

➡️ Final Essay Topics Assignment: Students choose from a set of thought-provoking prompts and write a five-paragraph essay analyzing key ideas such as survival, identity, memory, teamwork, and sacrifice, using text evidence to support their thinking and develop a clear, structured response.

➡️ Movie vs. Novel Comparison Digital Assignment: After reading The Maze Runner and watching the film adaptation, students analyze key differences in characters, plot, and tone, explaining how and why these changes impact the overall story using specific examples.

➡️ Final Creative Response Digital Choice Board: Students choose from a range of creative projects, such as poetry, a soundtrack, diary entries, a comic strip, or a podcast, to demonstrate their understanding of the novel while making meaningful connections to characters, events, and themes.

If you like this, you'll love this resource:
>>> A Year of English Bell Ringers

© Presto Plans

➡️ Want 10 free ELA resources sent to your inbox? Click here!