Finding a novel that engages students can be tough, but The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a very popular choice and a perennial student favorite. The Outsiders is an engaging novel that encourages critical thinking and meaningful discussions about real-world topics. Here are a few activity ideas for your novel study for The Outsiders:

1) Theme Study 

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s, and it explores issues of class, identity, poverty, family dynamics, loyalty, and friendship. Have students look for these themes throughout the story and note key passages, events, and page numbers that are relevant. After students finish reading the book, break them into groups--one group for each theme. Students should compare their notes about that theme, discuss relevant examples/events from the text, and create conclusions based on their textual evidence and discussions.

2) Character Development 

Ask your students to create character profiles for each of the characters in the book. They should explore how each character has developed over time and how they compare to one another. This exercise helps students think critically about each character’s motivations, strengths, weaknesses and overall journey throughout the story. 

3) Characterization

Have your students consider the point of view of one of the characters in the book. Students could "invite" the character to come visit them for a weekend, tell what activities they would do together, and explain how they think the story character would react to being in those situations. Would the character feel "at home" or "comfortable" or would the setting and activities be very different from the character's own experiences (setting & activities in the story)? How would the character react? What would the character think? This will help students consider different perspectives and begin to better understand characters who may have very different backgrounds than their own. 

4) Creative Writing 

Have your students create their own stories based on elements from The Outsiders or inspired by scenes from the book. Their stories should show/include at least one major theme from The Outsiders. This will let your students explore the story's themes from a creative perspective, exercise their creative and critical thinking skills, and practice their writing skills as well!

The Outsiders is a great book for teachers looking for an engaging novel study that encourages critical thinking and meaningful conversations about real-world topics like classism, identity, friendships, and more! By using this book as a springboard for further exploration of these important themes you can help foster thoughtful student conversations that will stay with them long after they finish reading this classic novel!