Welcome to a seven-week exploration of S.E. Hinton’s classic novel, The Outsiders. I have designed this unit to immerse students in the 1960s—a world of Greasers and Socs—while challenging them to reflect on identity, social hierarchy, and the power of loyalty through a series of summative assessments. 

My Unit Goals

Guided by the Grade 7 ELA Program of Studies, students will move beyond the page to:

• Explore perspectives by analyzing how differing backgrounds and cultural traditions shape our understanding of the world.

• Analyze narrative craft by deconstructing elements like foreshadowing, flashbacks, and the narrator's perspective to see how they influence the story.

• Respond creatively by moving between media, comparing the novel to its film adaptation and expressing literary themes through modern creative projects.

Summative Assessments

This unit balances deep reading with interactive, hands-on learning:

• Historical Context: We begin by "tripping back to the 1960s" to research the slang and culture that define the novel's setting.

• Dynamic Analysis: Students will track character growth through Character Wheels and visualize the rising action with ongoing Plotline Activities.

• Creative Assessments: Instead of traditional tests, students will demonstrate their understanding through a Character Instagram Assignment, a Newspaper Article reporting on key plot events, and a final Music Playlist Project.

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