The Outsiders Layered Curriculum
For 8th Grade Reading
Ms. Stephanie Ritter
De Soto Middle School
De Soto, WI
Layered Curriculum is,
essentially, an opportunity for self-made choice in the process of
evaluation. While reading this novel, YOU get to choose the
projects that best help you apply what you’ve read. Everyone will
start on the C layer and work their way to the A layer. Aim
high! All work done will be quality. You will be explaining
your work through oral defense.
Layered Curriculum Grading Scale: Other Mandatory Activities:
150-135: A 104-90: D 1. Read the novel.
134-120: B <90: F 2. Learn vocabulary.
119-105:
C 3. Take quizzes and a
test.
C Layer: KNOWLEDGE:
Choose the activities you want to do for a total of 40
points.
Vocabulary terms: nonchalantly,
unfathomable, premonition, gallantly, hue, eluded, aghast, leery,
reformatory, idolized, acquitted, stupor
You must choose one of the
following three vocabulary options for your C layer:
____ (10) C1: Create vocabulary
flashcards for the novel’s vocabulary words and use them to memorize
definitions. For definitions, please use a dictionary (they should
match as used in the novel).
____ (10) C2: Create a
vocabulary worksheet and a word search or crossword puzzle for
all of the words, with keys. Both should be typed. You
will find all definitions in the dictionary (they should match as used
in the novel).
____ (10) C3: Make an
illustrated dictionary of all of the vocabulary words. You will
need to look all of the words up in the dictionary (they should match
as used in the novel). Use color!
You may choose any of the
following activities to gain the rest of your C points:
____ (10) C4: Cut out of
magazines to create a collage of items representing the book. You
may use words and names as well as pictures.
____ (10) C5: Create a quality,
colored illustration of one important scene.
____ (10) C6: Design a personal
coat of arms for one character in the novel. Use color!
(HANDOUT C6)
____ (10): C7: Make a Venn
diagram that shows the similarities and differences between the
Greasers and Socs. Include at least 6-10 items in each
section. Then, devise a “Rules of Conduct” telling exactly what
both Greasers and Socs need to do to live peacefully together.
____ (10): C8: Color and cut out
four handout pictures of Greasers and Socs. (They are about the
size of paper dolls). Then, make a list of character traits of
each of the groups of people. Finally, write a paragraph
explaining which group you would fit in with best and explain
why. (HANDOUT C8)
____ (10) C9: Greasers use the
term “tuff” in the novel. Design a large poster/ collage
illustrating your idea of what is tuff. Glue on magazines
pictures, fabric samples, cheap jewelry, copies of CD covers, makeup
samples, titles of videos, pictures, etc. (HANDOUT C9)
____ (10) C10: Find a section of
the novel and rewrite it, changing the order of events in the
story. Please write at least two handwritten pages.
____ (10): C11: Read the “About
the Author” handout about S.E. Hinton. Then, write a song about
Hinton. Lyrics should be the length of a typical song.
Perform the song in front of the class. (HANDOUT C11)
____ (10): C12: Ponyboy and
Johnny change their hairstyles. Have you ever wondered how you
would look with a different hair style or color? For this
activity, you will need to provide six small school wallet pictures of
yourself (I’d suggest using a scanner to make the copies). On a
handout, you will color six small pictures and paste your school
picture behind each frame to discover the new you! (HANDOUT C12)
____ (10): C13: Create two
10-question quizzes about two of the sets of chapters (1-2; 3-4; 5-7;
8-9; or 10-12). The final drafts must be typed. Think about
important details that students should know and remember after reading
the chapter. Include a typed answer key.
____ (10): C14: Make a set of 3
“baseball cards” about three of the characters. On the front,
draw a picture and write the name. On the back, list 5-10 facts
about the character.
B Layer: APPLICATION:
Choose the activities you want to do for
60 points.
____ (15) B1: Take a survey of
attitudes about fighting. Interview 17 people, of all ages, about
their beliefs on acceptable reasons to fight. They
should fill out the chart themselves. Then, create a large,
colorful, neat graph of your results. (HANDOUT B1)
____ (20) B2: Both the Greasers
and the Socs have hangouts. Using a shoebox and 3D materials,
such as clay, cardboard, plastic figures, sticks, rocks, etc., design
the perfect hangout for your and your friends. (HANDOUT B2)
____ (30) B3: Ponyboy, Sodapop,
and Darry live without their parents. What if your parents
decided to leave you alone for a month? Could you survive?
Working with a partner (who will be your pretend-sibling), assign jobs
for yourselves, plan the meals for a week, determine transportation,
develop house rules, plan activities, write emergency procedures, and
plan ahead for problems. Put all of these items into a combined
survival manual. You might want to type it up. (HANDOUT B3)
____ (30): B4: Record an original
soundtrack for the novel. Choose 10-15 songs purposefully, that
go along with different scenes from the book. Include at least
one song by Elvis Presley (for the Greasers), one by the Beatles (for
the Socs), and one by Hank Williams (for Buck Merril). Create the
cover design, a track listing and actually make the CD.
On a separate sheet of paper, give reasons why you chose each of the
songs. (HANDOUT B4)
____ (20): B5: Make a poster
that neatly and largely states how to resolve a conflict, following the
7 conflict management techniques included on a handout. Then,
with a partner, act out one of the suggested conflict role-plays, and
show the class how to handle it using the 7 techniques. (HANDOUT
B5)
____ (20): B6: Prepare a profile
of the teenage social groups in De Soto. Include items such as
the following in your 2-page report: What types of different
social groups exist? How do groups interact with other groups?
Are there fights? Are there important reasons to be in a social
group? etc. You may want to do this as a survey, and
include graphs of your results. (HANDOUT B6)
____ (10): B7: With a partner,
rehearse a 3-5 minute interpretive dance, depicting the plot of the
novel so far. Perform it in front of the class.
____ (20): B8: Ponyboy and
Cherry realize that all people can enjoy the same sunsets. Use
your hands to make a sunset out of textured art materials, such as
colored sand, small beads, spices, colored pasta, fabric scraps, clay,
yarn, wrapping paper, glitter, salt, etc. Then, type up the poem
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost. Paste the poem onto your
sunset page. (HANDOUT B8)
____ (15): B9: Design a template
award certificate and make 6 copies. (You’ll want to look up
sample award certificates). Then, assign awards for 6 of the
characters. Write one full paragraph (5 sentences) for each
character about why he or she deserves that award. You may want
to quote from the text. Example award: “Rebel of the Year” goes
to Dally.
A Layer: EVALUATION:
Choose one activity that you want to do for 50
points.
For these essays, begin by
writing a rough draft. Have a friend peer-edit your paper.
Please remember the important parts of an essay, including a creative
title, an interesting lead, an introduction, a thesis, one main idea
per paragraph, and a conclusion.
____ (50): A1: There are many
types of heroes. What is a hero? Who is your hero?
Focusing on one famous or unknown hero, type a 2-3 page essay defining
the word hero and informing us about your own hero. Main ideas might
include qualities of that person. The thesis might be something
like, “Rosa Parks is a hero because of her constant persistence,
individuality, and courage.” Then, your paragraphs could each
focus on the different qualities. See the handout to help you
start thinking. (HANDOUT A1)
____ (50): A2: Many young people face the temptation of joining a gang. Research gangs in books and on the Internet. Complete the handout to begin your thinking. Would you enjoying being in a gang? Can gangs be positive? After you research, type a 2-3 page essay defining the word gang and informing us about gangs. Main ideas might include different gangs in America, the process of joining a gang, reasons people choose to belong to gangs, statistics about gangs, the history of gangs, etc. The thesis might be something like, “Let’s step into the world of gang membership, by observing the history, reasons to join, and statistics about gangs.” Then, your paragraphs could each focus on the main ideas. See the handout to help you start thinking. (HANDOUT A2)
____ (50): A3: The teenagers in
this novel face realistic teenage problems. Using a handout,
brainstorm a list of ten critical problems facing teenagers
today. Narrow the final list down to 3-4, and then type a 2-3
page essay defining the phrase “teenage problems” and informing us
about 3-4 problems teenagers face today, in 2007. Each problem
will become a main idea of your essay. The thesis might be
something like, “Three critical problems teenagers battle today, in
2007, include media pressure, teenage pregnancy, and Internet
abuse.” (HANDOUT A3)
____ (50): A4: Dropouts like
Sodapop face many problems in life. Research high school
dropouts. You might want to talk to Ms. Kilburg, the guidance
counselor, about dropouts. After you research, type a 2-3 page
essay defining the phrase “school dropout” and informing us about them.
Main ideas might include reasons why students drop out, problems faced
by dropouts, warning signs of dropping out, average income earned by
dropouts, how parents can prevent this, statistics about dropping out,
etc. The thesis might be something like, “High school dropouts
oftentimes exhibit warning signs for dropping out, drop out for various
reasons, and face problems later in life.” Then, your paragraphs
could each focus on the main ideas.
Name:
______________________________
The Outsiders Layered Curriculum Grading Scale: Layered Curriculum Scoring Sheet 150-135: A 104-90: D
134-120: B <90: F 119-105: C
Remember, it is up to you to
keep track of your points earned along the way. If you’d like,
you may keep this form in your SPELLING BEE, just to be safe!
Bring this sheet along to each oral defense conference. Thank you!
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Keep track of your Quiz
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