THE OUTSIDERS :
COMBINING LITERATURE AND THE NET!
***THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE UNIT***
MY DETAILED LESSON PLAN IS AT THE END OF THE UNIT PLAN.
The summer reading book for my eighth grade students was The Outsiders.
My students were asked to explore the important themes and social issues
in The Outsiders. To review the book when students return from summer
break, they will be asked to discover through web-based instruction and
research their understanding of the novel. I found an outstanding web-site
that will be used as the focus of this activity. This website was an outstanding
model of lesson plans and ideals. The URL is: http.//www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/out/outsg3.html.
Most activities in this CyberGuide ask students to focus on important issues
in the novel and then relate those issues to their contemporary world.
Essential Questions:
How does the problem of child abuse affect the outcome of the story?
What is the life of a homeless person like?
How is family important in the story?
What types of prejudice exists in the novel?
How does the main character cope with death?
What does the student appreciate about the novel?
"http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/sbestd.html"
During this unit, students will: (Examples from Grade 8)
Use information from a variety of consumer, workplace, and public documents
to explain a situation or decision and/or to solve a problem ["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8RC"].
Identify and analyze recurring comparative themes across works ["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8LA"].
Plan and conduct multiple-step information searches using computer networks
and modem-delivered services ["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WS"].
Achieve effective balance between researched information and original ideas
["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WS"].
Write responses to literature that develop interpretations which exhibit
careful reading and insight ["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WA"].
Write research reports that organize and record information on charts, maps
and graphs ["http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WA"].
Implementation Overview
Students will begin these assignments after they return from summer vacation.
Students will not be able to perform any website activities until they are
given internet access. They will be required to get permission slips signed
the first week of school so they are able to access the websites. This is
a positive situation because many students wait to get permission to get
on the internet or never go through the process to get on the internet.
This unit will force the students to get on the Internet immediately and
start using the computer.
Description of Materials, Activities and Websites
Each student will have his or her own copy of The Outsiders by
S.E. Hinton. I will sign up for the computer lab at school for seve********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ertalc"outsg1.html"
"http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WS"
Students will conduct web-based research to read more about the problems
of child abuse and to find agencies that provide support for survivors.
"http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/april00.htm"
From U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for
Children and Families.
The Students will visit the following agencies sites and note names, addresses,
phone numbers, email addresses and purposes of these agencies that help
survivors of child abuse.
"http://www.azstarnet.com/~casa/index.html"
URL: http://www.azstarnet.com/~casa/index.html
"http://www.calib.com/nccanch/prevmnth/contacts/pa.htm"
URL:
http://www.calib.com/nccanch/prevmnth/contacts/pa.htm
"http://www.childabuse.org/"
URL: http://www.childabuse.org/
"http://www.boysville.org/Locations.htm"
URL: http://www.boysville.org/Locations.htm
"http://www.childrensdefense.org/moreinfo.html"
\l "reachu" URL: http://www.childrensdefense.org/moreinfo.html#reachu
"http://www.yesican.org/help.html"
URL: http://www.yesican.org/help.html
"http://www.unitedwaydenver.org/"
URL: http://www.unitedwaydenver.org/
Students will write a letter to the character Johnny, advising him about
what he should do concerning the problems he has with his family. Students
will include information in their letter that they gained from their research
concerning child abuse information, statistics and agency sites.
"outsg2.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WS"
Students will consider the struggles of homeless people by reflecting
on the experiences of the main characters in the novel and by viewing pictures
of homeless people through the Internet. Students will take notes on what
they see.
The following sites display pictures of homeless people. Teachers preview
these sites to make sure they will be considered acceptable in their individual
district and school site.
"http://www.uvm.edu/~mwehner/final.htm"
URL:http://www.uvm.edu/~mwehner/final.htm
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/erica.html"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/erica.html
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/young.old.gif"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/young.old.gif
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/vadar.html"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/vadar.html
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/rima2.html"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/rima2.html
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/maggot.html"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/maggot.html
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/amber.camp.html"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/amber.camp.html
"http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/train.gif"
URL:http://www.auschron.com/gallery/8bit/train.gif
Finally, students will reflect on the issues surrounding homelessness by
writing a poem.
"outsg3.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8RC"
Students will think about the importance of family in the novel. They
will visit the following family web sites:
"http://www.bronitsky.org/will.htm"
URL:http://www.bronitsky.org/will.htm
"http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2818/"
URL:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2818/
"http://www.nas.net/~eckart/martin/"
URL:http://www.nas.net/~eckart/martin/
"http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/8079/"
URL:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/8079/
Finally, they will create a family celebration poster, designed to celebrate
the "Greaser Family."
"outsg4.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WA"
This activity is an extension to "outsg3.html". Please make
sure students complete Student Activity 3 before beginning Student Activity
4. For this activity students will create a Family Celebration Poster, scrapbook
or photo album for their own family.
Students are asked not to include any information that their family would
want to keep private.
Afterward, students should have time to share their Family Celebration
artwork with their classmates.
"outsg5.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WS"
Students will visit a website to study prejudice.
"http://kidshelp.sympatico.ca/help/divrsity/divrsty2.htm"
URL:http://kidshelp.sympatico.ca/help/divrsity/divrsty2.htm
Finally, students will illustrate a scene in the novel in which one type
of prejudice is taking place. They will use the information gained on the
web to label the type of prejudice occurring.
"outsg6.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8LA"
In this activity students will study the research of grieving. They
will visit three sites about grief.
"http://www.humboldt.edu/~hsucaps/item1_7.html"
URL:"http://www.humboldt.edu/~hsucaps/item1_7.html"
"http://www.grief.com/general.htm"
URL:"http://www.grief.com/general.htm"
"http://home.att.net/~velvet-hammer/grief.html"
URL:"http://home.att.net/~velvet-hammer/grief.html"
Finally, students will write a descriptive paragraph in which they describe
and report how Ponyboy grieves the deaths of Johnny and Dally.
"outsg7.html" "http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/stand/std.html"
\l "8WA"
Students will visit websites that display book reviews about The
Outsiders written by other students. Students will judge the quality
of the web-based book reviews.
"http://wwwfms.bham.wednet.edu/bookr/Fiction/Theoutsi.htm"
"http://wwwfms.bham.wednet.edu/bookr/Fiction/Theoutsi.htm"
"http://www.ced.appstate.edu/whs/outsider.htm"
"http://www.ced.appstate.edu/whs/outsider.htm"
"http://www.rbs.edu/JuneNewspaper/bookreport.html"
"http://www.rbs.edu/JuneNewspaper/bookreport.html"
"http://www.bsfcs.org/ericathomas/sehinton.htm"
"http://www.bsfcs.org/ericathomas/sehinton.htm"
LESSON PLAN: IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN
THE OUTSIDERS .
PROCEDURE/OBJECTIVES
Students will begin this activity by thinking about the importance of
family in the novel, The Outsiders. The theme of family runs throughout
the novel. Students will observe the many different shapes and sizes of
family units. Students will begin to gather information about families and
see how Ponyboy learns the importance of his immediate family and his extended
"Greaser" family. Students will also begin to gather information
on the values of the Soc families. In this activity, students will visit
different web sites that celebrate families.
Students will visit different family homepages to review the different things
that families enjoy, appreciate and celebrate together. Then they will create
a family celebration********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************dent
will have their own copy of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I will
sign up for the computer lab at school for several class periods. Students
will also need a poster board. I will supply the magazines, paper, markers,
scissors, glue and/or tape. .
Instructional Development: Exploring the Web, Creating a Product
First, the students will visit the following family homepages to study
what different families celebrate together. Student will write down 10 things
that these families enjoy, appreciate and celebrate together.
Now that students have learned more about what families appreciate about
themselves, they will skim through their novel to find the answers to the
following questions about the "Greaser Family." They will
be required to write their answers to these questions on a piece of paper
that they can store in a folder and refer back to later.
Who makes up the Greaser Family? Names? Who makes up the Soc's family? Names?
Where do these families (Greasers & Soc's) live? What kind of What are
some important moments in both families's history? Include both happy and
sad times.
What are some goals of the families?
After students have answered the previous questions, they will be asked
to create a "Family Celebration Poster" for the Greaser and Soc
Families from The Outsiders. I will ask them to think of their poster
like a large, one-paged photo album, scrap book or even family homepage.
Their poster should have both words and pictures, and it should celebrate
the Greaser and Soc Families.
Students can draw the pictures for their posters, or they may use cut outs
from magazines or newspapers. They also may print pictures of people off
the internet who may resemble the Greasers and Soc's in the novel. I will
ask them to pay attention to the details about the characters in the novel.
For example, they know that Cherry has red hair. They should make sure they
do not choose a picture of a blond.
ASSESSMENT
At the end of this activity students will be evaluated on the following
components:
Notes from the family homepages (10 things that the web families enjoy,
appreciate and celebrate together).
A Greaser and Soc Families Celebration Poster
The Greaser and Soc Families Celebration Poster must include the following:
Title
Pictures of each family member who resemble the character descriptions in
the book
Explanation of where the family lives
Illustration of important moments in the family's history
Discussion one or more family goals
Correct English
Aesthetic appeal
LESSON PLAN ENHANCEMENT: Incorporation of technology
I feel this lesson is definitely enhanced by incorporating the use of
websites. My students will have the opportunity to view values and customs
of a few families on the websites focusing on family. My students will be
able to make connections between the values and dynamics of the website
families to the families in the novel. Many times it is difficult for students
to see the life of the family outside of their own environment and experiences.
The majority of my students come from families that could be compared to
the Soc's in the novel, and this gives them the chance to see a bigger picture
of different types of families and what different families value.
The pedagogy of this lesson offers the students another avenue to acquire
new knowledge. Hopefully, a few students might try to find other websites
that offer information on family values and customs. They would encouraged
to pass on these sites to their peers. This would hold benefits two-fold.
The student who found the new website would be developing his/her technology
skills and would gain self-esteem by sharing new information that would
be valuable to all students. Then, other students would begin searching
for more information and the process would start all over again. Also, students
can pull pictures from the Internet to use on their family celebration poster.
I think that my students will find this lesson plan creative, fun, and interactive.
They will develop the following skills during the course of this lesson.
Students will:
hone computer skills
translate words and ideas into a visual poster displaying abstract comprehension
note important details
consolidate meaningful customs or values of different families
organize their time to complete assignment
demonstrate comprehension and understanding of novel
review by going over information of summer reading book
show growth in their comportment to see other life styles
continue to develop speaking skills as they explain their family poster
PLAN B: If chosen websites are for some reason shut down, students will
be asked to try to find sites that speak about families.
I am planning to give my students two 90-minute class periods to work
on this assignment. This will also be their only homework for a week.
THE OUTSIDERS TECHNOLOGY LESSON
Students, we are going to review your summer reading book in several
ways. We will begin this lesson by viewing a few websites dealing with the
topic of family. These sites invite you into their family and examine what
makes their family unique. Remember that every family has its own dynamics
or set-up. A family can mean many things. You will visit the following family
homepages to study what different families celebrate together. After you
have visited the websites, please write down ten things that these families
enjoy, appreciate, and celebrate together. Have fun with this assignment!
"http://www.bronitsky.org/will.htm"
URL:http://www.bronitsky.org/will.htm
"http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2818/"
URL:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2818/
"http://www.nas.net/~eckart/martin/"
URL:http://www.nas.net/~eckart/martin/
"http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/8079/"
URL:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/8079/
Now that you have learned more about what families appreciate about themselves,
please skim through your novel to find the answers to the following questions
about the "Greaser family" the "Soc family".
You are required to write your answers to these questions in your Discovery
journal. Make sure you title your journal entry.
Who makes up the Greaser Family? Names? Who makes up the Soc's family? Names?
Where do these families (Greasers & Soc's) live?
What are some important moments in both family's history? Include both happy
and sad times.
What are some goals of the families?
Yes, there is still more fun!!! I would like you to create a "Family
Celebration Poster" for the Greaser and Soc Families from The Outsiders.
This poster will be your interpretation of the family members of the
Greasers and Socs. Think of your poster like a large, one-paged photo album,
scrapbook or even family homepage. Your poster should have both words and
pictures,
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