Start your The Outsiders novel study with this engaging, no-prep pre-reading pack that brings S. E. Hinton’s world to life through biography, 1960s culture, and music connections — now with a Teacher Guide, pacing plan, and student-friendly video links for maximum engagement.

Students can’t appreciate Ponyboy’s world until they understand the world that shaped him. This pre-reading pack gives them that context. They’ll explore S. E. Hinton’s life story, connect with themes of identity and belonging, and immerse themselves in 1960s music culture through a second article — From Motown to Woodstock.

Each article is paired with 10 rigorous, close-reading comprehension questionsand an expanded teacher answer key with video links for whole-class review. The included Teacher Guide offers pacing suggestions, discussion prompts, and tips for integrating music clips and SEL questions into your lesson.

The Contents

You’ll receive:

• Two engaging nonfiction articles

  • S. E. Hinton Biography: Identity, Belonging, and Perseverance

  • From Motown to Woodstock: Music & Culture Behind The Outsiders

• 20 multiple-choice comprehension questions (10 per article)

• Expanded teacher answer key with detailed explanations for every answer choice

• Embedded YouTube video links to boost interactivity and support visual learners

• Teacher Guide with pacing (2–3 days), discussion prompts, and classroom tips

• Printable PDF format (ready to use digitally or on paper)

Ideas for Use

• Use as a pre-reading launch activity to build historical and cultural context

• Play the linked YouTube clips to create a mini-lesson experience with zero extra prep

• Integrate into cross-curricular history lessons about the 1960s for a richer learning experience

• Assign as independent reading or partner work followed by class discussion

Why They’ll Love It

• Everything in one place: Articles, quizzes, answer key, pacing, and videos

• Engagement boost: Music clips and discussion prompts help students make personal connections

• Teacher-friendly: Saves hours of planning time with a clear 2–3 day lesson structure

• Flexible: Works for whole group, small group, or independent use

Additional Details

• Grade Levels: 7th–9th

• Standards: CCSS RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, RI.8.1, RI.8.2 (cite evidence, determine central ideas, analyze connections)

• Format: PDF (printable and shareable digitally as a read-only file)

• Total Student Pages: 6

©2025 Light Up Literature. All rights reserved. For classroom use only. This resource may not be distributed or uploaded to public/shared drives.