We asked our 8th graders to create wanted posters for Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny from "The Outsiders" to help them show what they learned in a creative, hands-on way. Making a poster asks students to think about how the characters look, act, and feel, and then pick the most important moments from the story to include. The choices they make—what to highlight, what to leave out—show how well they understand the plot, the characters’ reasons for what they do, and how the story changes.
Artistic projects in English class give students another way to tell a story. When a student draws a tired face, chooses a certain word, or chooses a specific scene, they’re using evidence from the book and turning it into something the whole class can see and feel. These posters reveal how students interpret Ponyboy and Johnny—whether they see them as brave, scared, misunderstood, or loyal—and that helps everyone in the class talk about the characters and themes in a deeper, more personal way. We’re excited to share their work in the paper: each poster is a small window into how young readers connected with this powerful story.
