| Lesson start ideas | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
| Which subject | Literature |
| What age group | Year or Grade 8 |
| What topic | Social Justice with the Outsiders |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Any other preferences |
In order to effectively introduce students to the concept of social justice, it's important to make the material engaging and relevant to their lives. One creative way to do this is to begin the lesson with a thought-provoking activity that ties in with the popular young adult book "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton.
Start by writing the word "justice" on the board and asking students what comes to mind when they hear the term. Allow a few students to share their thoughts and then transition into a discussion about social justice. Ask the class what they think social justice is and why it's important.
Next, divide the students into small groups and give each group a different scenario related to social justice. For example, one group might be asked to discuss a situation in which a homeless person is unfairly treated by the police, while another group might discuss the lack of diversity in a particular workplace. Encourage students to brainstorm solutions to these issues and present their findings to the class.
After the group discussions, tie the activity back to "The Outsiders" by asking students to think about the injustices experienced by the characters in the book. Facilitate a discussion about how these injustices relate to real-life issues of social justice.
By starting the lesson with a creative and interactive activity, students are more likely to be engaged and invested in the topic of social justice. They are also more likely to make meaningful connections between the lessons and their own lives.