This unit plan focuses on studying the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Students will read the novel and analyze key elements like plot, characters, themes, and language. Activities include identifying characters, comparing Socs and Greasers, exploring relationships between characters, and examining how characters change. Students will also write opinions, creatively explore themes, and relate issues in the text to their own lives. The unit aims to develop skills like using language, thinking critically, and relating to others.

1. Christine Wells
S.E Hinton

2. In this unit you will:
 Read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
 Identify key features of the plot.
 Identify and describe key characters and their motivation.
 Explain the effectiveness of the language used in these
stories.
 Identify and describe the key themes and explain what the
author wants us to think about.
 Write in a formal style to express an opinion on a topic
relating to issues in the text.
 Write creatively to explore and demonstrate understanding
of the issues in the text.

3. Gathering
Processing
 In pairs, list all the characters introduced in
chapter 1 and beside each write a description
next to each one.
Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating

4. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
1. Create a Venn diagram to show the similarities and
differences between the Soc’s and Greasers.
2. Explain why Cherry won’t say ‘hi’ to Ponyboy at school.
Include a quote.
3. Describe P-boys parents. Include a quote.
4. Explain why P-boy wants to move to the country. Include a
quote.
5. Describe what happen when P-boy came home late.
6. Imagine that you are Johnny. Write a journal entry to
describe your thoughts and feelings about your family. Write
at least 5 sentences. Gathering
Processing
Applying

5. Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
1. Create a visual timeline of 5 events in this chapter.
2. Record definitions for the following words:
a) Reformatory b) Premonition
c) Hermit d) Rueful
3. Explain what Pony means when he says the Soc’s were ‘reeling
pickled’.
4. What would your advice be to Pony and Johnny if they came
to you for help? Explain in at least 5 sentences.
5. In pairs, create a wordfind with at least 10 words. Use names
or words from chapter 4.
Gathering
Processing
Applying

6. Write out the characters name and matching description. Write out the
letters and numbers also.
a. Ponyboy Curtis 1. Soda’s best friend
b. Darryl Curtis 2. Won’t fight in the last rumble
c. Sodapop Curtis 3. It’s his idea to go to Jay
Mountain
d. Two-Bit Mathews 4. She says she might love Dally
e. Johnny Cade 5. The Soc who is killed
f. Steve Randall 6. He hates Baloney at the end
of the novel
g. Dallas Winston 7. The clown of the gang
h. Sandy 8. The second oldest brother
i. Cherry Valance 9. Tells Ponyboy to ‘stay gold’
j. Marcia 10. Sodapop’s girlfriend
k. Bob Sheldon 11. He dropped out of College
l. Randy 12. Randy’s girlfriend
Thinking
Using language, symbols and Gathering
text Processing
Managing self
Participating

7. a. 6 g. 3
b. 11 h. 10
c. 8 i. 4
d. 7 j. 12
e. 9 k. 5
f. 1 l. 2

8. Thinking
Using language, symbols and text
Managing self
Participating
Family
situation personality
POnyboy
Friends Appearance
Gathering

9. Thinking
Using language, symbols and text
Managing self
Participating
 Map the changes that Ponyboy goes through.
 Write a description and include a quote in each square.
1. Realises that 2. He realises
Socs are not so 3. Loses his
that Darry has fear of the
different to given up a lot
Greasers. Soc’s.
for Soda and Describe –
Describe how – him.
Quote – Quote –
Explain why –
Quote – Pg. 206
Pg. 43 new Pg. 212
book.
Gathering
Processing

10. Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
Family
situation personality
Johnny
Friends Appearance
Gathering

11. Thinking
Using language, symbols and
text
Managing self
Participating
 Identify 3 reasons why the relationship between Johnny and Ponyboy is
important.
 Include a quote for each point.
 Describe the situation for each quote.
 Explain what we can learn from each situation.
1. Many things in 2. Johnny taught 3. Johnny comes out
common. Pony to stay gold. of his shell.
Gathering
Processing

12. Thinking
Using language, symbols and
text
Managing self
Participating
 Frequently events happen that we don’t want
to be associated with (eg. Johnny killing Bob)
– but we have no choice in the matter. Write
a description of a similar event that has
happened in your life.
 Write at least 300 words.
Applying

13. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
1. Re-read Chapter Two and write down the important quotes
from the conversations between Cherry and Ponyboy.
2. Write a paragraph that describes what Ponyboy learnt from
Cherry.
3. Find the other areas of the book that include Cherry. Look
carefully at what she says and add any important quotes to
the earlier list.
4. Explain why Cherry was an important character in the book.
What part does she play?
Gathering
Processing

14. 1. Describe what they look like.
2. Describe their personality.
3. Explain how the characters relate together/or get on with
each other.
4. Explain how we are made to feel about the characters.
Darry Sodapop Dally
Two-Bit Randy
Thinking
Using language, symbols and
Gathering
text
Processing
Managing self
Participating

15. Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
1. Decide who you would like to invite to your class
from The Outsiders as a guest speaker. What sort of
questions would you ask? What could the answers
be?
2. In groups make a list about the good and bad
qualities of Ponyboy, Dallas, Johnny, and Cherry.
3. Draw a symbol or selection of symbols for one
character in the book, or two characters that have a
strong contrast. Begin by selecting ideas from
magazines, be prepared to explain your reasons
behind your symbol to the class. Gathering
Processing
Applying

16. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
 Describe a significant relationship in the text. Explain why
this relationship was significant.
OR
 Describe a major change in a character in the text. Explain
why this change was important.
Processing
Applying

17. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Gathering Managing self
Processing Participating
 New book: half way down 167 – halfway down 171.
 Green book: page 100 – top of 102.
 Brown cover: page 138 – top of 141.
 Red and blue cover: page 147 – middle of page 150.
Read the below passage then copy the questions and complete the answers
in your books.
1. Identify what made Darry “…more determined to get somewhere”.
2. Is the story written in first, second or third person? Explain why this is
effective.
3. Describe the Brumly gang.
4. Explain the difference between the two gangs.
5. Record an example of alliteration.
6. Define ‘reformatory’.
7. Record an example of slang and explain its meaning.
8. Record an example of a metaphor and explain what it is describing.
9. List 5 things that Shepard’s gang were used to fighting with.
10. Explain why Ponyboy thought that they shouldn’t be there.

18. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Participating
1. Describe at least 2 of the conflicts that arise between the
Greasers and the Socs.
2. Explain why the Greasers are jealous of the Socs.
3. Explain why the Socs are jealous of the Greasers.
4. Randy says ‘Even if you whip us in a rumble, you’ll still be at the
bottom.’ This shows us that the two groups are aware of what?
5. Identify who helps us to realise that underneath both gangs are
similar. How?
6. Explain what we can learn from this message.
Some useful quotes:
 Greasers are described by the Socs as ‘white trash with long hair’.
 ‘You want to know something?’ She looked me straight in the eye.
‘Things are rough all over.’ pg 31
 ‘Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different.
We saw the same sunset.’ pg 34 Gathering
processing

19. Theme Two: It’s rough all over
Gathering
Processing
 In pairs, read through notes and complete the chart.
Greaser character Explanation of Quote
who has problem problem
1.
2.
3.
Soc character Explanation of Quote
who has problem problem
Thinking
1. Relating to others
Using language,
2. symbols and text
Managing self
Participating
3.

20. The Tulsa Times
 In Chapter 7 we learn that a local newspaper has
published a full page of stories about the killing in
the park, the fire in the old church etc. You are going
to write those stories now!
 Work in a group of no more than 4. Everyone must
contribute to the writing of the articles.
 Each article must be at least 300 words in length
and include a photo.
 Your work must be published on Microsoft
Publisher. Thinking
Relating to others
Using language, symbols Gathering
and text Processing
Managing self Applying
Participating

21. You need to produce stories or features on the following:
 The fight and killing in the park - include quotes from those
involved.
 The fire in the old church at Windrixville and the rescue of
the children (including a quote from a parent).
 A special feature about the Curtis boys: the death of their
parents; Darry and his 2 jobs; Sodapop the dropout; Ponyboy
the star student; the possibility that the younger boys will be
sent to a children’s home.
 Perhaps also a feature on the two gangs: Greasers and Socs
(who are they?).

22. Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
by Robert Frost

23. The best time in our lives is when we are young and innocent like
Ponyboy and Johnny, but this time doesn’t last. Effectively birth
signals the start of death, and for the Greasers because of their
‘suicidal lifestyle’, it may come before they’ve had a chance to
experience life’s beauty.
Youth is the flowering of life but it is cut short by adulthood which comes
sooner for some, like Darryl. After adulthood comes death and
another life is lost forever. ‘I ain’t ready to die, Pony,’ Johnny’s life has
tragically ended before it’s time. There are so many things he hasn’t
seen or done.
Like sunrise and sunset, life is a cycle but for humans the cycle comes
round only once. If we don’t make the most of our cycle we miss out
on the beauty of living. Johnny tells Ponyboy to ‘stay gold’, not to
change the way he is, ‘it’s a great way to be.’ He says to tell Dally to
make the most of his life but unfortunately for him it is also too late.

25. 1. Listen to the Stevie Wonder song ‘Stay Gold’ (the
credit music from the film)
2. Read "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost
3. Read Excerpt 1: Page 38 and Excerpt 2: Page 68-70
4. Discuss ideas.
5. Use the materials provided (paper, markers,
scissors, glue,) to create an artistic
interpretation/representation of the poem.
Thinking
Relating to others Gathering
Using language, symbols and Processing
text Applying
Managing self
Participating

26. Thinking
Using language, symbols and text
Managing self
 Describe a theme from a novel you have studied this year
and explain how it is relevant to you.
OR
 Describe an important moment in a text you have studied in
class and explain why it is important.
Processing
Applying

27. Thinking
Using language, symbols
and text
Managing self
Choose ONE of these to answer
Describe an important idea in the text. Explain what the reader could learn
from it.
OR
Describe an important moment in the text you have studied and explain
why this moment was important.
OR
Describe a main character in the text. Explain what you learnt from the
words and/or actions of this character.
You need to write a minimum of 300 words. Processing
Applying

28.  Jenny Thomas: The Outsiders unit plan
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lRH6h2x