Activity Overview
Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the quotes mean to them. In this activity, students will select a quote or scene from the novel and illustrate its importance.
Some students may end up choosing the same quote, but have different perspectives. This is always interesting for students to see and can open up a discussion as to how not everyone can read the same lines in the same way based on their own perspectives and personal experiences.
Examples of Quotes from All American Boys
"Had our hearts really become so numb that we needed dead bodies in order to feel the beat of compassion in our chests? Who am I if I need to be shocked back into my best self?"
"In 2012, in the United Kingdom, the number of people (regardless of race) shot and killed by police officers: 1. In 2013, in the United Kingdom, the number of times police officers fired guns in the line of duty / the number of people fatally shot: 3/0. In the United States, in the seven year period ending in 2012, a white police officer killed a black person nearly two times a week. "I’m not much of a talker," she finished up. "You know that. But I know numbers. The numbers don’t lie, kids. The numbers always tell a story."
"Sometimes, when people get treated as less than human, the best way to help them feel better is to simply treat them as human. Not as victims. Just you as you. Rashad Butler, before all this."
"Rashad is Absent Again Today"
"Nobody says the words anymore, but somehow the violence still remains. If I didn’t want the violence to remain, I had to do a hell of a lot more than just say the right things and not say the wrong things."
"This is a roll call! SEAN BELL!" Then she followed with "Absent again today! OSCAR GRANT! Absent again today! REKIA BOYD! Absent again today! RAMARLEY GRAHAM!" She paused, and at that point the rest of us knew exactly what to do. "Absent again today!" "MICHAEL BROWN!" "Absent again today!" "TAMIR RICE!" "Absent again today!" "ERIC GARNER!" "Absent again today!" "TARIKA WILSON!" "Absent again today!" And Spoony kept feeding Berry the papers, one after another, as she continued to read down the list of unarmed black people killed by the police."
"Our silence is another kind of violence."
"Paul’d gotten it all wrong. Becoming a cop would not make him a hero - but what kind of cop he became could have."
"The way he said it was as if the lack of ROTC had a direct connection to why my older brother worked at UPS. As if only green and blue uniforms were ok, but brown ones meant failure."
"For all the people who came before us, fighting this fight, I was here, screaming at the top of my lungs, Rashad Butler. Present."
"IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR." - Desmond Tutu
"He wasn't strong because he wasn't afraid. No, he was strong because he kept doing it even though he was afraid."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies your favorite quote or scene in All American Boys. Illustrate your quote and write what it means to you.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Choose a favorite quote or scene from All American Boys.
- Create an image that represents this quote using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
- In the description box, write the quote and at least one sentence about what this quote means to you.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Quote, Illustration, 1-2 sentences about what it means to you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The explanation of what the quote means to the student is clear and at least two sentences. | The explanation of what the quote means to the student can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The explanation of what the quote means to the student is unclear and is not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustration represents the quote or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustration relates to the quote or explanation, but is difficult to understand. | The illustration does not clearly relate to the quote or the explanation. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
Activity Overview
Having students choose a favorite quote or scene from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterwards and have a short discussion about what the quotes mean to them. In this activity, students will select a quote or scene from the novel and illustrate its importance.
Some students may end up choosing the same quote, but have different perspectives. This is always interesting for students to see and can open up a discussion as to how not everyone can read the same lines in the same way based on their own perspectives and personal experiences.
Examples of Quotes from All American Boys
"Had our hearts really become so numb that we needed dead bodies in order to feel the beat of compassion in our chests? Who am I if I need to be shocked back into my best self?"
"In 2012, in the United Kingdom, the number of people (regardless of race) shot and killed by police officers: 1. In 2013, in the United Kingdom, the number of times police officers fired guns in the line of duty / the number of people fatally shot: 3/0. In the United States, in the seven year period ending in 2012, a white police officer killed a black person nearly two times a week. "I’m not much of a talker," she finished up. "You know that. But I know numbers. The numbers don’t lie, kids. The numbers always tell a story."
"Sometimes, when people get treated as less than human, the best way to help them feel better is to simply treat them as human. Not as victims. Just you as you. Rashad Butler, before all this."
"Rashad is Absent Again Today"
"Nobody says the words anymore, but somehow the violence still remains. If I didn’t want the violence to remain, I had to do a hell of a lot more than just say the right things and not say the wrong things."
"This is a roll call! SEAN BELL!" Then she followed with "Absent again today! OSCAR GRANT! Absent again today! REKIA BOYD! Absent again today! RAMARLEY GRAHAM!" She paused, and at that point the rest of us knew exactly what to do. "Absent again today!" "MICHAEL BROWN!" "Absent again today!" "TAMIR RICE!" "Absent again today!" "ERIC GARNER!" "Absent again today!" "TARIKA WILSON!" "Absent again today!" And Spoony kept feeding Berry the papers, one after another, as she continued to read down the list of unarmed black people killed by the police."
"Our silence is another kind of violence."
"Paul’d gotten it all wrong. Becoming a cop would not make him a hero - but what kind of cop he became could have."
"The way he said it was as if the lack of ROTC had a direct connection to why my older brother worked at UPS. As if only green and blue uniforms were ok, but brown ones meant failure."
"For all the people who came before us, fighting this fight, I was here, screaming at the top of my lungs, Rashad Butler. Present."
"IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR." - Desmond Tutu
"He wasn't strong because he wasn't afraid. No, he was strong because he kept doing it even though he was afraid."
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies your favorite quote or scene in All American Boys. Illustrate your quote and write what it means to you.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Choose a favorite quote or scene from All American Boys.
- Create an image that represents this quote using appropriate scenes, characters and items.
- In the description box, write the quote and at least one sentence about what this quote means to you.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Quote, Illustration, 1-2 sentences about what it means to you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 7 Points | Emerging 4 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | The explanation of what the quote means to the student is clear and at least two sentences. | The explanation of what the quote means to the student can be understood but it is somewhat unclear. | The explanation of what the quote means to the student is unclear and is not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustration represents the quote or explanation using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustration relates to the quote or explanation, but is difficult to understand. | The illustration does not clearly relate to the quote or the explanation. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
How Tos about Connecting to All American Boys
Encourage respectful discussions about sensitive themes
Foster a safe classroom environment by setting clear discussion norms before beginning. This helps students share honest thoughts while respecting others’ experiences and opinions.
Model how to reference the text to support ideas
Demonstrate how to use quotes from All American Boys when responding to questions or making points. This encourages students to ground their perspectives in the story and adds depth to their contributions.
Guide students to make text-to-world connections
Prompt students to link events or themes from the novel to current events or real-world issues. This helps them see the relevance of the book and builds critical thinking skills.
Use reflective journals to deepen understanding
Assign regular journal entries where students reflect on their reactions to the story. This private space encourages honest processing and personal growth.
Celebrate diverse perspectives during sharing
Highlight how students interpret the same scene or quote differently. This promotes empathy and demonstrates that multiple viewpoints enrich the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Connecting to All American Boys
What is a good way to help students connect personally with All American Boys?
A powerful way to help students connect with All American Boys is to have them choose a favorite quote or scene, illustrate it, and write about its meaning. This encourages text-to-self connections and deeper understanding of the novel's themes and characters.
How can I use quotes from All American Boys in a classroom activity?
Ask students to select a meaningful quote from the novel, create an illustration representing it, and explain its significance. This activity sparks discussion about perspective and helps students see how the same quote can resonate differently based on each person's experiences.
Why is it important for students to discuss different perspectives on the same quote?
Discussing different perspectives fosters critical thinking and empathy, showing students that literature can be interpreted in multiple ways. It helps them understand how personal experiences shape our responses to the same text.
What are some impactful quotes from All American Boys to use in lessons?
Examples of impactful quotes include: "Our silence is another kind of violence," "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor," and "Sometimes, when people get treated as less than human, the best way to help them feel better is to simply treat them as human." These highlight the novel’s major themes of justice, identity, and social responsibility.
How do I structure a storyboard assignment for All American Boys?
Have students select a favorite quote or scene, create an image to represent it using characters and items from the book, and write 1-2 sentences explaining its meaning to them. This reinforces comprehension and personal engagement with the text.
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All American Boys
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