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.
Short answer questions test student understanding and reading comprehension for The Red Pony.
The Final-Final requires students to take action on writing assignment feedback and to resubmit their work for a last round of teacher feedback.
Besides students’ usual grammar exercises in English class, they can learn literature-based ways to enhance their grammar capabilities.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck's The Red Pony and those of their classmates.
Challenge students to research prices and values of items, goods, and services during the 1920s/1930s up to today.
Through a short research project, students will compare what social services were available during the 1920s/30s with those that are available today.
After gaining an understanding of the methods used in 19th century broadsides, students will create their own broadsides to entice people to move west.
Look closely at how the war between the United States and Mexico affected land ownership in California and the west.
Examine what drew Gitano specifically to the Tiflin ranch, the reactions that the Tiflins had to Gitano, and what makes a place important.
Through the use of primary sources, students can examine the old pioneer story from the perspectives of peoples who have been traditionally left out.
Responsibility is an important theme in “The Gift.” Students will not only be discussing and writing about Jody’s responsibility but their own.
Challenge students to use what they have learned about the characters to script and perform an interview with the character.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
An identity chart is a graphic tool meant to help students understand the motivations and factors that have shapes 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.
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.
Provide a structure that students of all abilities can utilize to build their analytical skills.
An in-depth, section-by-section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.
Provide additional structure and guidance to that found in “Mining for Examples.” Students create their own study guide for the novel.
Students work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in The Red Pony.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from The Red Pony.
Passport to Literacy is a cross-curricular project that examines life on a farm in the 1930s and today.
Apply research skills to examine the Tiflin ranch scientifically and create plans to “upgrade” the ranch to a more modern, more “green” business.
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.
Provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point in the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Students show their position on a specific statement by standing in a particular corner of the room or answering a question with a choice.
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.
An interactive PowerPoint modeled on the popular quiz show. A fun way to review for a cumulative assessment of the novel.
Prepare students for the controversial issues they will encounter in the classroom while reading The Red Pony.
The “American Dream” is part of the theme of moving west and is important to understanding the novel and the motivation of the characters.
Help students distinguish between literal and figurative concepts and track the use and meaning of symbols throughout The Red Pony.
Challenge students to create and act out their own skits that demonstrate the differences between plot and theme.
This guide includes a comprehensive list of literary terms, their definitions, and examples of their usage as found in the novel.
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.
An in-depth, section-by-section breakdown of short writing prompts for use in journal assignments, assessments, and discussion starters.
Provide additional structure and guidance to that found in “Mining for Examples.” Students create their own study guide for the novel.
Apply research skills to examine the Tiflin ranch scientifically and create plans to “upgrade” the ranch to a more modern, more “green” business.
Challenge students to research prices and values of items, goods, and services during the 1920s/1930s up to today.
Through a short research project, students will compare what social services were available during the 1920s/30s with those that are available today.
After gaining an understanding of the methods used in 19th century broadsides, students will create their own broadsides to entice people to move west.
Look closely at how the war between the United States and Mexico affected land ownership in California and the west.
Examine what drew Gitano specifically to the Tiflin ranch, the reactions that the Tiflins had to Gitano, and what makes a place important.
Through the use of primary sources, students can examine the old pioneer story from the perspectives of peoples who have been traditionally left out.
Students will learn a bit of someone else’s life story through interviewing a family member, or close friend of the family.
Responsibility is an important theme in “The Gift.” Students will not only be discussing and writing about Jody’s responsibility but their own.
Students create a performance that reveals a message, theme, or conflict represented by the text to help them understand problems the characters experience.
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 work collaboratively to create an in-depth study guide to understanding key scenes, quotations, and themes in The Red Pony.
Provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point in the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Students can graphically “speak” about The Red Pony by creating brochures, posters, and other illustrations about the novel.
Students choose scenes from the novel to adapt into a short, dramatic reproduction.
Understanding the rich connection between period music of the 1930s and The Red Pony using lyric sheets and listening.
Spontaneous poetry is a creative and fun activity during any time of the year, but teachers can apply this specifically to The Red Pony.
Besides students’ usual grammar exercises in English class, they can learn literature-based ways to enhance their grammar capabilities.
Students can improve their sentence fluency by emulating the sentence structure of Steinbeck's The Red Pony and those of their classmates.
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.
Challenge students to use what they have learned about the characters to script and perform an interview with the character.
Create a “message board” where students can post and comment upon important, entertaining, and interesting passages from 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.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students gain a deeper understanding of the connections between characters.
Short answer questions test student understanding and reading comprehension for The Red Pony.
Passport to Literacy is a cross-curricular project that examines life on a farm in the 1930s and today.
Create radio play adaptations of scenes as live, unseen performances, or recorded and edited podcasts.
The Final-Final requires students to take action on writing assignment feedback and to resubmit their work for a last round of teacher feedback.
Students show their position on a specific statement by standing in a particular corner of the room or answering a question with a choice.
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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