The Outsiders Unit Plan - S.E. Hinton Novel Study Reading Unit
The Outsiders Unit Plan includes everything you need to teach The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton with ease and confidence. This comprehensive unit features over 250 pages and slides of engaging, ready-to-use materials designed to save time and engage students from the very first chapter. The Outsiders novel study includes presentation slides, print-ready assignments, comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, quizzes, video journals, and interactive projects that bring the story to life. This novel study for The Outsiders guides students through each section of the book while developing reading, writing, and discussion skills, encouraging them to analyze key themes such as identity, belonging, and social class while making meaningful personal connections to the characters and conflicts in the novel.
What Teachers Are Saying About The Outsiders Unit Plan:
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Included in The Outsiders Unit Plan:
➡️ The Outsiders Introductory Presentation: Introduce The Outsiders novel study with this interactive PowerPoint presentation that includes pre-reading discussion questions, an interactive class activity, a biography of S.E. Hinton, a review quiz, and historical context of the 1960s when the novel is set. It also provides helpful background information to prepare students for reading the novel.
➡️ The Outsiders Chapter Summary Cards: These summary cards are an excellent classroom reference for both teachers and students during The Outsiders unit plan. The twelve printable cards outline the most important plot moments from each chapter of the novel. Simply print and cut out the cards before starting The Outsiders novel study, and you’ll have a valuable tool to support struggling readers, help students locate text evidence, or quickly review key events.
➡️ The Outsiders Quizzes: These short chapter assessments are ideal for checking comprehension during The Outsiders unit plan. Included are six quizzes, each with six multiple-choice questions and two quotation-based responses where students explain the context and meaning. The quizzes help reinforce understanding of the plot and important moments in the novel. Detailed answer keys are included for easy grading.
➡️ The Outsiders Vocabulary Booklet and Slides: Help students master new vocabulary from the novel with this ready-to-use resource. The vocabulary booklet is organized by chapter sets, allowing students to read each word in a quote, infer its meaning using context clues, and then confirm it with a dictionary definition. Matching presentation slides are included for review or discussion.
➡️ The Outsiders Writing Prompts – Video Clips: Help your students make connections during The Outsiders unit plan with these engaging video journals. Students will watch short YouTube clips related to a theme, idea, or issue from the novel, then respond to a connected writing prompt. The videos are not directly about the novel but encourage students to make text-to-self and text-to-world connections.
➡️ The Outsiders Questions and Answers: This resource includes organized chapter questions that assess comprehension, analysis, and understanding of literary devices. A helpful reference handout with definitions and examples of common literary devices is also included. A PowerPoint presentation with detailed, text-supported answers makes class review efficient and effective.
➡️ The Outsiders Analysis Notes: This 26-slide presentation explores the novel’s key literary elements, including characterization, theme, symbolism, and allusion. The slides are organized by chapter and can be used for student notes, class discussions, or guided instruction. After using this presentation, students will have a deeper understanding of The Outsiders and its literary significance.
The Outsiders Unit Plan also includes creative assignments and activities for each chapter set. You can learn more about what’s included below:
Chapters 1–2
➡️ The Outsiders Identity Activity: After reading chapters 1–2, students will participate in an interactive activity that helps them explore their own identities, select a group they connect with, and reflect on stereotypes or misconceptions about that group. This activity builds empathy and encourages students to consider how identity and perception shape the characters’ experiences in the novel.
➡️ The Greasers Character Study: In Chapter 1, students meet many of the main characters in the story. This ready-to-use assignment has students list character traits, physical descriptions, personalities, and key relationships to better understand each character’s role in the novel. A detailed answer key is included.
Chapters 3–4
➡️ The Outsiders Stereotyping Activity: After reading chapters 3–4, students will participate in an interactive activity that will help them examine their own stereotypes as well as the stereotypes presented in the novel. This activity is designed to help students empathize with the characters and explore the complexities of the theme of stereotyping in The Outsiders.
➡️ Newsworthy Article Writing: Students will write and design a newspaper article for the day after Bob’s death in the novel. They will use text evidence to support their writing and include two quotes from characters of their choice to add realism and authenticity.
Chapters 5–6
➡️ Nothing Gold Can Stay Poetry Analysis: Guide students through an analysis of Robert Frost’s poem Nothing Gold Can Stay, which Ponyboy recites in Chapter 5. This poetry activity helps students explore the poem’s meaning, connect it to the novel’s themes, and reflect on its emotional impact within The Outsiders novel study.
Chapters 7–8
➡️ The Outsiders Interview Activity: Ponyboy tells readers about being interviewed by reporters while visiting Johnny and Dally in the hospital. In this assignment, students will create a transcript of the interview, developing questions and responses that fit the context of the novel and deepen their understanding of character perspectives.
Chapters 9–10
➡️ The Outsiders Socs vs. Greasers Rumble Activity: This fun, interactive class activity helps students explore the similarities and differences between the two gangs. Working in groups, students take on the role of either a Greaser or a Soc to answer perspective-based questions about their rival gang. They’ll then analyze key quotes to recognize that the two groups share more in common than they realize.
Chapters 11–12
➡️ The Outsiders Plot Diagram Assignment: Students use a ready-to-print story arc template to outline the novel’s exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. A detailed answer key highlights the key plot points for each stage, reinforcing understanding of narrative structure.
➡️ The Outsiders Movie Novel Comparison: After viewing the film adaptation, students will identify and explain three key differences between the movie and the novel, encouraging critical thinking about adaptation choices.
➡️ The Outsiders Movie Review: Students will write a film review evaluating the adaptation of The Outsiders. They’ll decide whether they recommend it, describe standout scenes, compare it to the novel, and give it a final rating.
➡️ The Outsiders Essay Topics: These four essay prompts encourage students to explore important themes, character development, and symbolism in The Outsiders through well-structured five-paragraph essays.
Other Assignments
➡️ Character Social Media Fakebook Page: Students will create a social media page for one of the characters. They’ll draw the character, write status updates that reflect their emotions, include key details from the story, and have other characters leave comments, showing understanding of relationships and personality.
➡️ Designing a Wanted Poster: Students will design a wanted poster for a character from the novel. They’ll use a graphic organizer with guiding questions before transferring their ideas onto the final poster template.
➡️ The Outsiders Assignment – Tattoo a Greaser: In this creative activity, students will choose a Greaser and design two tattoos that represent the character’s personality, experiences, or a major theme in the novel. Each tattoo must be explained and supported with text evidence.
➡️ Golden Quotations: Building on the “Stay Gold” theme, students will select two quotations from the novel they consider “golden.” These quotes should represent an important theme, conflict, or aspect of characterization, and students must justify their choices with textual support.
What Teachers Are Saying About The Outsiders Unit Plan:
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