Play the online game at the Teachers-Direct website with your students to help test their knowledge of the play. Divide the class into Team 1 and Team 2 and have each team pick a leader. Choose a team to go first and have the team choose a letter tile. The game will generate a question with an answer that begins with the letter; the team should try to answer the question. The other team gets the chance to answer if the first team misses it. Click on "Team 1" or "Team 2" to color in the letter tile with the color of the team that correctly answers the question. The first team to connect their sides of the game board with a row of letter tiles in their team's color wins.
Create a word search to emphasize elements of the play, such as character names, character actions and locations. Draw a square grid on graph paper and write words vertically, horizontally, and diagonally in a random location on the grid, assigning one letter per square of the grid. Fill the rest of the grid with random letters. Add a puzzle name and a list of the words hidden in the puzzle and then copy it a few times on a copier to remove the graph paper lines.
Read the play in class and divide the class into equal groups. Hand out guidelines explaining what you want them to discuss, such as characters, motivations, themes, plot and dialogue. Give the groups a few discussion points for this story, such as "bullying" and "how Sammy changes" to help focus the discussions. Give the class several class sessions to discuss the play. Have one member of each group take notes on the group's progress each day. The group should then work together to create a two- to three-page report of their conclusions.
Give each student a copy of the play and a role or job, making sure that each student is involved in a production of the play. Students that aren't acting, for example, can make costumes or props. Have students practice the play regularly to help them remember their lines. Spending time reading and rehearsing the play will also reinforce the play's messages. Stage the play for your school, other classes or for parents.