Graphic Novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers full novel study lessons HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Clipart from Queen’s Educational Resources HERE
Graphic Novel Monster by Walter Dean Myers is an award-winning graphic novel about a teenage boy’s journey to prove his innocence after being accused of murder. It’s a powerful story that can be used to teach students about themes such as justice, morality, and identity. Here are some tips on how to use this novel to engage students in meaningful discussions and help them make connections between the text and their own lives.
1. Pre-reading Activities
Before you dive into the novel with your students, it’s important to set the stage for meaningful learning. There are several pre-reading activities you can do with your students to help them become familiar with the characters and plot of Monster. For example, have your students create web diagrams or character maps identifying key people in the book so they can keep track of who is who as you read through the novel together. You could also have them write brief summaries of each chapter or draw illustrations that capture their impressions of events in the book. Explain the Context of the Novel Beforehand
Before you dive into discussing the text with your students, it’s important to provide them with background information on both Walter Dean Myers and the context of his novel. Teach them about Myers as an author, what inspired him to write Monster, and why he chose to write it in a graphic novel format. This will help students gain insights into character motivations and understand why certain choices were made by Myers while writing this book.
2. In Class Discussions
Once your students have read through Monster, facilitate class discussions where they can discuss their thoughts and feelings about different aspects of the novel. Encourage them to make connections between what happens in the book and their own lives—this will help them stay engaged with what they’re reading and think more deeply about its meaning. Make sure everyone has a chance to participate in these discussions; if someone seems hesitant or unwilling to speak up, ask specific questions that will get them involved in the conversation. When teaching Monster in class, focus more on group discussions over individual work when possible. To get the most out of this book, it’s important for students to discuss their thoughts and feelings after reading each chapter with their peers – this helps them process what they read more deeply and encourages critical thinking skills. If possible, divide your class into small groups so that each student has a chance to contribute their voice during discussions.
3. Post-Reading Activities
Post-reading activities are a great way for your students to reflect on what they’ve learned from reading Monster and apply those lessons to their own lives. Have them create written reflections about different themes from the book or conduct research projects that explore issues related to criminal justice reform or mass incarceration (which are both addressed in Monster). You could also assign group projects where student teams create presentations based on topics related to race, class, gender, etc., all of which come up throughout Myers’s work. Monster focuses heavily on themes of racism and injustice within our legal system. Encouraging your students to make connections between their own experiences with these issues will help them better understand what they are reading. For example, if you have students who come from minority backgrounds or have had firsthand experience with injustice in their communities, ask them to share their stories and relate it back to the story being told in Monster.
Monster is an engaging graphic novel that provides countless opportunities for meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages. By using pre-reading activities, facilitating classroom discussions, and assigning post-reading tasks, educators can help bring this important story alive for their students while teaching valuable lessons at the same time! With a little bit of creative thinking and preparation, teachers can unlock this powerful story’s potential within their classrooms while providing an engaging educational experience for everyone involved!
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Monster by Walter Dean Myers full novel study lessons HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers.
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