TOPIC: STUDY GUIDES

Discipline

Language Arts, History

Grade Level

6 – 12

Type of Activity

Small Group,Entire Class, Ongoing, Writing, Research

Objectives

  • New teachers will understand the nature of a basic study guide by reading the Penguin guide to The Red Pony.
  • Students will understand the nature of a basic study guide by referencing the SparkNotes guide to The Red Pony.
  • Students will understand the nature of a self-created study guide by being guided through TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES. For a partial sample of what MerryhillSchool students in Milpitas, California, created as a study guide for The Red Pony, see TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES – SAMPLE PROJECT.
  • Students will be able to create their own, unique study guide for The Red Pony.

Overview

Study guides are important to understanding a novel; however, they should never replace actual reading and discussion of the book.

Although there are many “study guides” for The Red Pony available on the Internet, the true purpose of such is to complement all the activities found on this site. However, the best study guides are ones created by students themselves. Please refer toTOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES – SAMPLE PROJECT for a partial sample of what MerryhillSchool students in Milpitas, California, created as a study guide for The Red Pony.

Whenever students are involved in creating their own curriculum, they tend to succeed.

Materials Needed/Preparation

  • Copies of The Red Pony.
  • Access to the following two study guides:
  • Refer to TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLESfor further details. See TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES – SAMPLE PROJECT for a sample of a study guide for The Red Pony created by students from MerryhillSchool in Milpitas, California.

Estimated Time

The creation of a study guide is ongoing, and the time spent in the classroom is up to the discretion of the teacher.

Procedures

Before students create their own study guide (in small groups), refer to TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES, TOPIC: MINING FOR EXAMPLES – SAMPLE PROJECT,and the study guides found here.

Post Activity/Takeaways/Follow-up

  • Takeaways
  • Students should be able to pass on their study guides to the next class that will be reading The Red Pony.
  • Students can leave respectful comments about self-created study guides on a special page (on the wall or online) for such.
  • Follow-up
  • Individuals can evaluate/grade the students’ study guides.

Assessment

  • During the course of The Red Pony reading, teachers should monitor the progress of the study guides and give occasional tests/quizzes.
  • How thorough is a group’s study guide?

Standards Met

CommonCoreState Standards Met

  • Reading Standards for Literature 6-12
  • Key Ideas and Details: 1,2,3
  • Craft and Structure: 4,5,6
  • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 9
  • Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
  • Reading Standards for Informational Text 6-12
  • Key Ideas and Details: 1,2,3
  • Craft and Structure: 4,5,6
  • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 8
  • Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
  • Writing Standards 6-12
  • Text Types and Purposes: 1,2
  • Production and Distribution of Writing: 4,5
  • Research to Build and Present Knowledge: 9
  • Range of Writing: 10
  • Speaking and Listening Standards 6-12
  • Comprehension and Collaboration: 1
  • Language Standards 6-12
  • Conventions of Standard English: 1,2
  • Knowledge of Language: 3
  • Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: 4,5,6
  • Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
  • Key Ideas and Details: 1,2
  • Craft and Structure: 4,5
  • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 9
  • Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-12
  • Text Types and Purposes: 1,2
  • Production and Distribution of Writing: 4,5
  • Research to Build and Present Knowledge: 7
  • Range of Writing: 10

2-31 Study Guides.doc - Of Mice and Men

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