The Power of Change: A Reusable Study Guide for Literary Adaptations
 
Our final novel (or play) literature guide for Level 7-8 is The Power of Change, a unique study guide that gives students the freedom to choose their own classic novel or play and its adaptation to study. Whether it's Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and the movie version of West Side Story, the journey from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to Wicked, or jumping thousands of years forward from The Odyssey to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, this guide challenges middle school students to explore how creative changes breathe new life into timeless stories.
 
But that's not all—we very well could have named this guide The Power of Choice. Students take charge by selecting the works that excite them most, designing their own reading schedule, and managing their time to complete this project by its due date. Along the way, they’ll sharpen their literary analysis skills, develop thoughtful comparisons, and continue to improve on the essay writing skills built in previous novel guides.
 
Perfect for 7th and 8th graders, The Power of Change is packed with features to make learning both fun and structured:
Reusable Format: Use the guide for a different novel or play next year—adaptations are endless!
Skill Building: Includes time and project management, critical thinking, and essay writing.
Discussion Starters: Explore thought-provoking questions about storytelling, audience, and the power of creative adaptation.
 
Give your student the tools to see literature in a whole new light and think critically about stories that carry the label "classic."
 
This complete study guide provides everything you need to bring a classic story and its movie adaptation into your homeschool or classroom (except for a copy of the book and access to the movie, of course).
 
It includes:
Warm-Up Activities
Guidance on Choosing a Literary Work
Time Management Calendar
Daily Reading Notes
Discussion Prompts
Literary Analysis
Essay Writing
And a Snack Recipe!