In this activity, students will identify a theme of the novel, and support their choice with details from the text. Several themes are present in the novel, and students could also display how these are present by giving an example of each theme.
Jeffrey Magee is repeatedly abandoned:
Jeffrey desperately wants to be a part of a family who cares about him.
Two Mills consists of the East End, for blacks, and the West End, for whites. Jeffrey does not see these color differences and embraces the individuals who are open to racial differences.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Maniac Magee. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Ask the students to identify themes in the text first. It is possible that there are multiple themes in the novel but there is always one central or main theme in the plot. Students can also list down these themes for better help in the future.
After listing the themes, students can make connections among different themes. Teachers can help them during this process by teaching them how they can identify such connections and the importance of these connections and sequences.
In order to make connections, students can use the method of connecting by cause and effect. They can see if the plot of one theme has an effect on another. For example, the theme of abandonment has an effect on the theme of familial relationships.
Teachers can first introduce the concept of Venn diagrams to students. Students can then use this concept to create a visual illustration of the similar and contrasting elements in different themes.
After collecting all the information from the text, teachers should encourage students to apply critical thinking and make different connections. For this purpose, students can also try to think from the author's perspective and recognize the author's intent.
The primary themes of "Maniac Magee" are racism, abandonment and homelessness, belonging, friendship, and the value of removing social boundaries.
The obvious separation between the East End and West End neighborhoods, one of which is predominately white and the other African American, is evidence of racism. Magee had to face many barriers and issues because of this racism and it had an everlasting impact on his life. In order to show how racism affects the community, Maniac Magee challenges these racial barriers in his friendships and relationships.
The themes of "Maniac Magee" are relevant to contemporary concerns including racial conflicts, homelessness, and the value of forging bonds between individuals from various backgrounds. The book pushes readers to take on these issues and advance understanding in their own neighborhoods. Especially, for children who study in diverse environments should be more understanding of others' circumstances regardless of their race or ethnicity.
The narrative that follows Maniac's journey and the experiences he has with various persons serves as an effective means for the author to explain the topics. Readers learn about the effects of racism and homelessness on people and communities via these experiences.