The Outsiders
Day 1: Inferences and Predictions
Objective(s): Students will be able to make inferences/predictions in regards to The Outsiders.
Students will be familiar with vocab words from chapters 1 and 2 of Outsiders.
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [10 min] Finish and go over matching vocab worksheet
[10 min] Cover Analysis: Students will be grouped into pairs or groups of three and each given a
different book/movie cover to analyze. They will take a few minutes to write down their
observations and discuss these to make predictions about what they think the story may be
about. These predictions will be shared with the class.
 Groups: Noah and Lynn; Jairo and Ana; Nazariy and Martez; Ashton and Brittney;
Randy and Ayhem; Jaxon and Jared; Cammie, Bannaz, and Dylan; Krystale and Chris;
Jazerius and Corbin
[5 min] Tea Party - Students will each receive a notecard with a sentence from Chapters 1-2 of
The Outsiders, and will spend a short amount of time circulating the room discussing their
notecards with their peers.
[10 min] After circulating, each student will be paired using the notecards - each has a matching
card - and they will find seats next to each other, sharing their new predictions about the book
based on cover analysis and their recent talks with other students in the class. We will have a
short sharing of these new opinions out loud.
[15 min] Read first 8 pages out loud
Materials: copies of various book/movie covers for analysis, quote notecards
hw: N/A
Day 2: Chapter One
Objective(s):
 Students will follow along to the rest of the first chapter of The Outsiders
 Students will review main characters, plot, setting, point of view, and other establishing
details present in the first chapter.
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Read teaser trailer out loud on projector as a review
They walked around slowly, silently, smiling.
“Hey, grease,” one said in an over-friendly voice. “We’re gonna do you a favor,
greaser. We’re gonna cut all that long greasy hair off.”
He had on a madras shirt. I can still see it. Blue madras. One of them laughed,
then cussed me out in a low voice. I couldn’t think of anything to say. There just isn’t
a whole lot you can say while waiting to get mugged, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Need a haircut, greaser?” The medium-sized blond pulled a knife out of his back
pocket and flipped the blade open.
I finally thought of something to say. “No.” I was backing up, away from that knife.
Of course I backed right into one of them. They had me down in a second. They had
my arms and legs pinned down and one of them was sitting on my chest with his
knees on my elbows, and if you don’t think that hurts, you’re crazy. I could smell
English Leather shaving lotion and stale tobacco, and I wondered foolishly if I would
suffocate before they did anything. I was scared so bad I was wishing I would. I
fought to get loose, and almost did for a second; then they tightened up on me and
slugged me a couple of times. So I lay still, swearing at them between gasps. A
blade was held against my throat.
“How’d you like that haircut to begin just below the chin?”
It occurred to me then that they could kill me.
[5 min] Hand out books and announce that we will be following along with Jessica and Jenn for
the rest of chapter one.
[15 min] Listen and follow along to end of first chapter stopping to make sure the students are
keeping up and understanding what is going on in the text.
[10-15 min] Review with students main characters, plot, setting, POV, write on projector as
students are prompted to answer.
 Who is the narrator? Who are his brothers? What are Greasers and Socs? Etc.
 Also, explain/explore difference between “tough” and “tuff”
[5-7 min] Hand out loose leaf to each student and have them write one prediction about the next
chapter (they will put the loose leaf in their folders and write one prediction at the end of each
class)
Supplies: The Outsiders books, Teaser sheet, loose leaf
hw: N/A
Wed. Day 3: Chapter 2
Objective(s): Students will understand characters and slang words in The Outsiders.
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Put up character description sheet for students to finish writing down
[5-7 min] Video about time period of The Outsiders talk about it-play it twice
[5-7 min] Explain books/abridged versions - if you have a busy night ahead of you, feel free to
take the abridged version, but we will always read the book in class - Read with a partner - warn
them to look for Cherry and pay attention to character traits
[10-15 min] Read on your own - ask them if they want to check out books/abridged quietly
[10 min] Go over what has happened and add Cherry to character list
[5-7 min] Go over slang words with worksheet and warn them about chapter quizzes
Supplies: Slang Words ws, character list, books
hw: Finish chapter 2
Thurs. Day 4: Chapter 3
Objective(s): Students will know specific differences between Greasers and Socs
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5-7 min] Reading quiz on notecards
 Describe a significant quality of Cherry and why you think it is important
[5-10 min] ask students to demonstrate specific qualities of Greasers and Socs (walk like a
Greaser/Soc, sit like a Greaser/Soc, what are you wearing (Greaser/Soc), what are in your
pockets, ...SCHOOL APPROPRIATE - SET BOUNDARIES
[10 min] Transfer most important character traits from loose leaf to bubble sheet
[7-10 min] Start Chapter 3-students read out loud
[15 min] Read on own
Supplies: notecards for quiz, quiz question print out, bubble sheet packet, books
hw:
Fri Day 5: Chapter 4
Objective(s):
 Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the events of Chapter 3 of The Outsiders.
 Students will write about a rivalry in their own lives.
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Reading quiz
 Why do you think Ponyboy so easily opened up to Cherry?
 Based on Cherry’s boyfriend, Bob, why do you think she said she could so easily fall in
love with Dally? What similarities do Bob and Dally have?
[10 min] Briefly discuss the quiz questions and review Chapter 3 in its entirety. Make sure to talk
about Cherry and Ponyboy’s discussion about how Greasers and Socs are the same/different,
the importance of Darry hitting Ponyboy, and any other important information. Ask them what
they remember about the chapter.
[15-20 min] Rivalry in your life prompt, i.e.: family members, sports teams, friends, from movies,
etc.
 Write about a time in your life where you either were involved in a rivalry (friends, family
members, etc.) or you witnessed and understood a rivalry (movies, sports teams, etc.)
How did it start? How did each side feel and act? How did it end or how is it still
happening?
 Share these with a partner, maybe? Or just share with the class?
[10-15 min] Read on own (should we maybe read some of it out loud to them? They seem to do
better that way...but we can talk about it tomorrow)
Supplies: Loose leaf paper for prompts, notecards for quizzes, Quiz questions, Prompt question,
Outsiders books
hw: Finish Chapter 4 for Monday
Mon Day 6: Intro to Scary Sensory Scene Mrs. Banwell
Tues Day 7: Work on Scary Sensory Scene Mrs. Banwell
Wed Day 8: Quiz, sensory scene sharing, and Ch. 4 review
Thurs Day 9: Chapter 5
Objective(s):
 Students can look at situations from The Outsiders in a different perspective
 Students can find meaning in poetry
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Talk about what Ponyboy and Johnny could have done - someone else
to go to
[10 min] Robert Frost Poem in chapter 5 - analyze before reading
 Take the poem line by line, if they understand each line, then they will understand the
poem
[7-10 min] Read out loud
[25 min] Read on own
Supplies: Robert Frost poem,
hw: finish chapter 5, Last day to turn in signed sheets, reading quiz on Fri
Fri Day 10: Chapter 6
Objective(s):
 Students will write a meaningful letter to Soda/Darry using Ponyboy’s voice
Schedule:
[10 min] Fire Drill
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Reading quiz
 What was Johnny’s reaction to Gone With the Wind, and why do you think the classy,
Southern gentlemen reminded Johnny of Dally?
 What is Cherry doing to help the greasers, and why do you think she is doing it?
[5-7 min] Go over quiz and chapter
[15-20 min] Letter to Ponyboy from Soda, write a letter back to either Soda or Darry
[5-10 min] Read as a class
[remainder] Read by self and work on quote sheet
Supplies: Quiz, Bubble sheets,
hw: finish chapter 6 and work on quote packet
Tues Day 12: Chapter 7
Objective(s):
 I can ace my quiz
 I can form arguments for two sides of a situation in The Outsiders
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Reading Quiz
 What do Johnny and Ponyboy do when they see the church is on fire? Why do they do
this?
 What did Darry do when he saw Ponyboy in the hospital? What realization/thoughts did
Ponyboy have after this encounter?
[15 min] Go over quiz, Debate about whether the class thought Johnny/Ponyboy should stay
hiding or turn themselves in - they didn’t get to choose b/c of the fire, but if they had..., groups of
3 (reading groups)-argue both sides, put yourselves in their shoes (Jenn video discussion)
 Come together as a class and state their most logical arguments for either side
[15 min] Work on quote sheet in pairs (have at least one filled out for each section) Aha moment
with Darry and Ponyboy, Walk them through Johnny being confused - bubble sheet supporting
character trait
[15 min]Read
Supplies: Debate prompt, reading quiz,
hw: finish chapter 7
Thurs Day 14: Chapter 8
Objective(s):
 I can ace my quiz
 I can use quick thinking (and my competitive side) to answer questions related to what I
have read in The Outsiders
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Reading quiz
 How did the newspaper/reporters portray Johnny and Ponyboy? Were you surprised and
why/why not?
 Does Randy plan on fighting in the rumble? Why or why not?
[5 min] Go over quiz
[10 min] Bell game
1. Who is the narrator and protagonist of The Outsiders?
2. Who is Ponyboy’s oldest brother?
3. Which Greaser has abusive parents?
4. Which Greaser is considered Sodapop’s best friend?
5. Who used to be Cherry’s boyfriend?
6. Who stabbed who by the fountain?
7. Who did Ponyboy and Johnny go to after Bob was killed?
8. Where did Ponyboy and Johnny go to hide?
9. What is Cherry doing to help the Greasers?
10. What fast food restaurant did Dally take Johnny and Ponyboy to?
11. Before the fire, who decided that he wanted to turn himself in?
12. Who is the author of The Outsiders?
13. Which Soc comes to talk to Ponyboy?
14. Does Randy plan to fight in the rumble?
15. Why does Cherry say she doesn’t want to see Dally again?
16. Which Greaser is a thief?
17. What is Soda’s girlfriend’s name?
18. Which Greaser is the jokester of the group?
19. What is the time period of the book?
20. What food is Ponyboy sick of after hiding out in the church?
21. What group of people in Gone With the Wind does Johnny admire?
22. What do Cherry and Ponyboy enjoy watching?
23. What does Ponyboy like to do that makes him different from the other Greasers?
24. Why is Cherry’s nickname Cherry?
25. Which Greaser is a high school dropout?
26. What happened to Ponyboy’s parents?
27. What items are the Socs known for?
28. What might happen to Ponyboy and Soda after they get back from the hospital?
29. What non-breakfast food do Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry like to eat for breakfast?
30. Randy said that Bob will still be alive if what had happened?
31. Why did Sandy move to Florida?
[5-7 min] Sandy’s pregnant p. 111 - figure out what really happened to Sandy - give a couple
minutes for them to read it over, didn’t used to be socially acceptable to have a baby out of
wedlock (you can overlook things if you don’t read carefully), talk about Bob
[5-7 min] Work on quote sheet with a partner
[10ish min] Read
hw: finish chapter 8
Fri Day 15: Chapter 9
Objective(s):
 I can ace my quiz
 I can draw meaning from quotes in the book
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5-7 min] Reading quiz
 How did Johnny’s mom act when she came to the hospital? What was Johnny’s reaction
to that?
 When Dally asks for Two-Bit’s switchblade, is Two-Bit hesitant to give it to him? Why do
you think he was or wasn’t?
[5 min] Go over quiz/chapter
[10 min] How do we know Johnny’s mom is awful and uncaring - trait quote out of packet
[25 min] Read out loud in class - recording (take notes before the rumble, during, and after)
hw: finish chapter 10
Thur Day 19: Chapter 11
Objective(s):
 Students can support their opinions with evidence from the book
 Students can connect quotes with character traits
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5-10 min] Oral Reading Quiz and chapter review
We will put up the quiz questions as if they were taking a normal reading quiz, and then ask
them to split up into pairs. Each pair will have 5 minutes to discuss the answers to both
questions, and we will give them time to share with the class along with bringing out other
important events that happened in chapter 10.
 Did Dally die a hero? Why or why not?
 What does Johnny mean when he tells Ponyboy to “stay gold?” Where does he get this
phrase from?
[10-15 min] Write a two sentence phrase and a design in pairs that would go on either Johnny or
Dally’s gravestone (if finished before the whole class is finished, work on quote packet)
[10-15 min] Work with partner on quote packet - fill out Chapter ten quote part (when the whole
class is finished with the gravestone, present them to the class and give reasoning to what they
chose)
[10-15 min] Begin reading chapter 11 with your partner for 5 minutes and then split up
Supplies: Gravestones, Oral quiz,
hw: finish chapter 11
Friday Day 20: Chapter 12
Objective(s):
 I can ace my quiz
 I can debate a topic logically with classmates and draw support from the book
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5-7 min] Reading quiz
 Why does Ponyboy start thinking about Bob the Soc, and what does he think about him?
(There are several answers to the second part of this question, just choose one.)
 When Randy comes to visit Ponyboy at his home, he says something that upsets
Ponyboy. What does Randy say, and what is Ponyboy’s response?
[15-20 min] Review the quiz, begin small group debate about whether or not Ponyboy will be
taken out of Darry’s guardianship and placed in a boys’ home, and why or why not it would be a
good thing - students will be placed into their reading groups (Jessica’s video day)
 Will discuss as a class and hear arguments for both sides
[15ish min] READ
[10+ min] Explore S.E. Hinston’s website with a partner.
 S.E. Hinton’s a girl?!
Supplies: note cards, video camera (phone?), computers
hw: Read Chapter 12 for Monday
Mon Day 21:
Schedule:
Anticipatory Set [5 min] Go over chapter 12
[10 min] Look at website about the author
[15-20 min] Bell Game Test Review Part II
1. Who is the main character and narrator of The Outsiders?
2. What object does Dally ask Two-Bit to let him borrow in the hospital?
3. Which group - Greasers or Socs - wins the rumble?
4. What are Johnny’s last words?
5. How does Dally die?
6. What item is Bob known for or recognized by?
7. Who is the author of The Outsiders?
8. Which of the Greasers steps up to start the rumble?
9. Why does Sodapop run away to the park?
10. What is the verdict at the trial?
11. What do we find out about Soda’s girlfriend Sandy?
12. What is the setting - time period and location - of the novel? (this is not directly stated in
the book)
13. What injury does Ponyboy get during the rumble?
14. What do Ponyboy and Darry fight about after the trial?
15. What class is Ponyboy failing in the last chapter?
16. How can he raise his grade, and what does he decide to write about?
17. Why does Ponyboy start thinking about Bob while he’s sick in bed?
18. The book is narrated in which point of view?
19. Why is Cherry’s nickname Cherry?
20. Can you list at least one reason that members of the Greasers gave for why they fight?
a. Steve - hatred
b. Soda - fun
c. Darry - pride
d. Two-Bit - conformity
21. Why does Randy come to visit Ponyboy when he’s sick?
22. Who does Johnny look up to the most?
23. Which Greaser is the gang’s “pet?”
24. What did Randy say that made Ponyboy upset?
25. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy after he died? (2 things)
26. What nickname does Darry hate?
27. What does Johnny do when his mom comes to visit him in the hospital?
28. What do the newspapers say about Johnny and Ponyboy?
29. What does Ponyboy do when the Socs confront him at the gas station?
30. What is the name of the Robert Frost poem that is referenced in The Outsiders?
31. Which of the Socs becomes a spy for the Greasers?
32. What item does Ponyboy keep wishing for during the trial?
33. According to Soda, what did Darry give up to take care of him and Ponyboy?
34. Who does Ponyboy say should have their story told?
[if time left] Any questions about the test and start persuasive intro
 if you could save one of the Greasers and take them out of their situation, which one
would you save-opinion and use at least one quote to back up your reasoning. It should
be a lengthy paragraph.
hw: study
Tues Day 22: Test