the Red
Pony
The Red Pony is a collection of four short stories: "The Gift," "The Great Mountains," "The Promise," and "The Leader of the People." The collection dramatizes several significant events in the life of the young boy Jody as he learns important lessons about nature, life, and death. The Red Pony is typically taught as early as middle school and is often a student's introduction to Steinbeck and his works.
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This guide includes a comprehensive list of literary terms, their definitions, and examples of their usage as found in the novel.
Challenge students to create and act out their own skits that demonstrate the differences between plot and theme.
Provides a list of slang terms as well as an interactive, student driven "word wall" to help students understand the new words encountered in their readings.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck's The Red Pony and those of their classmates.
Besides students’ usual grammar exercises in English class, they can learn literature-based ways to enhance their grammar capabilities.
Understanding the rich connection between period music of the 1930s and The Red Pony using lyric sheets and listening.
Students will learn a bit of someone else’s life story through interviewing a family member, or close friend of the family.
Through the use of primary sources, students can examine the old pioneer story from the perspectives of peoples who have been traditionally left out.
Examine what drew Gitano specifically to the Tiflin ranch, the reactions that the Tiflins had to Gitano, and what makes a place important.
Look closely at how the war between the United States and Mexico affected land ownership in California and the west.
After gaining an understanding of the methods used in 19th century broadsides, students will create their own broadsides to entice people to move west.
The “American Dream” is part of the theme of moving west and is important to understanding the novel and the motivation of the characters.
This activity helps students to understand characters and their motivations through the use of a graphic organizer.
An identity chart is a graphic tool meant to help students understand the motivations and factors that have shapes characters.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
Breakdown major events, themes, and discussion topics. This is a rich source of information to help frame an entire unit plan for The Red Pony.
Help students distinguish between literal and figurative concepts and track the use and meaning of symbols throughout The Red Pony.
Understanding the difference between “showing” and “telling” will not only enhance the students’ enjoyment of literature, but will improve their own writing.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from The Red Pony.
Students work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in The Red Pony.
Provide additional structure and guidance to that found in “Mining for Examples.” Students create their own study guide for the novel.
An in-depth, section-by-section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.
Spontaneous poetry is a creative and fun activity during any time of the year, but teachers can apply this specifically to The Red Pony.
Students can graphically “speak” about The Red Pony by creating brochures, posters, and other illustrations about the novel.
Provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point in the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Students choose a character from The Red Pony whom to write. All students will receive a letter in return from another character in the novel.
Students choose scenes from the novel to adapt into a short, dramatic reproduction.
Students create a performance that reveals a message, theme, or conflict represented by the text to help them understand problems the characters experience.
An interactive PowerPoint modeled on the popular quiz show. A fun way to review for a cumulative assessment of the novel.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
Prepare students for the controversial issues they will encounter in the classroom while reading The Red Pony.
An introduction to John Steinbeck, The Red Pony, its characters, the setting, and the contextual background, including the Great Depression.
Understanding ranch life in the 1920s/1930s and the migrant ranch experience from that period, and today, are essential for understanding the novel.
Challenge students to create and act out their own skits that demonstrate the differences between plot and theme.
Breakdown major events, themes, and discussion topics. This is a rich source of information to help frame an entire unit plan for The Red Pony.
This guide includes a comprehensive list of literary terms, their definitions, and examples of their usage as found in the novel.
This activity helps students to understand characters and their motivations through the use of a graphic organizer.
An identity chart is a graphic tool meant to help students understand the motivations and factors that have shapes characters.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
Understanding the difference between “showing” and “telling” will not only enhance the students’ enjoyment of literature, but will improve their own writing.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from The Red Pony.
Challenge students to use what they have learned about the characters to script and perform an interview with the character.
Provides a list of slang terms as well as an interactive, student driven "word wall" to help students understand the new words encountered in their readings.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck's The Red Pony and those of their classmates.
Besides students’ usual grammar exercises in English class, they can learn literature-based ways to enhance their grammar capabilities.
Spontaneous poetry is a creative and fun activity during any time of the year, but teachers can apply this specifically to The Red Pony.
Understanding the rich connection between period music of the 1930s and The Red Pony using lyric sheets and listening.
Students choose scenes from the novel to adapt into a short, dramatic reproduction.
Students can graphically “speak” about The Red Pony by creating brochures, posters, and other illustrations about the novel.
Provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point in the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Students work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in The Red Pony.
Students choose a character from The Red Pony whom to write. All students will receive a letter in return from another character in the novel.
Students create a performance that reveals a message, theme, or conflict represented by the text to help them understand problems the characters experience.
Responsibility is an important theme in “The Gift.” Students will not only be discussing and writing about Jody’s responsibility but their own.
Students will learn a bit of someone else’s life story through interviewing a family member, or close friend of the family.
Through the use of primary sources, students can examine the old pioneer story from the perspectives of peoples who have been traditionally left out.
Examine what drew Gitano specifically to the Tiflin ranch, the reactions that the Tiflins had to Gitano, and what makes a place important.
Look closely at how the war between the United States and Mexico affected land ownership in California and the west.
After gaining an understanding of the methods used in 19th century broadsides, students will create their own broadsides to entice people to move west.
Through a short research project, students will compare what social services were available during the 1920s/30s with those that are available today.
Challenge students to research prices and values of items, goods, and services during the 1920s/1930s up to today.
Apply research skills to examine the Tiflin ranch scientifically and create plans to “upgrade” the ranch to a more modern, more “green” business.
An interactive PowerPoint modeled on the popular quiz show. A fun way to review for a cumulative assessment of the novel.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
Provide a structure that students of all abilities can utilize to build their analytical skills.
Students work in small groups to analyze and dissect a reading, then report back to the class. This activity aids students in understanding complex material.
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