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!
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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 review 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
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