Only eight days before “The Hunger Games” movie premiere!
Will your class read Catching Fire and Mockingjay? If so, this letter-writing activity is great to use with chapters 13-14 of Catching Fire. Students get to become either Katniss or Peeta and write a note home with their goodbyes to their friends and family.
You can download this activity/printable FREE here:
Catching Fire Writing Prompt
Thanks so much!
Heather says
I have seen lots of teacher blogs posting Hunger Games activities and assignments. I would like you to explain to me how these books are educational to children because I can't figure it out. I am also eager for you to explain to me how composing a pretend, but very morbid note home is a healthy assignment for this age group. Are tons of teachers just including the Hunger Games because it is trendy right now? Do they think that the actual writing by the author is worth the amount of time and effort they are expending? I am so curious! Please fill me in!
townesy77 says
@Heather
Have you read the book? I read it (and the remaining books in the trilogy) when it was released in 2008 and was pleased to read about a young female protagonist with such a strong moral compass without any vampires in sight. I believe the Hunger Games is a reflection of the society we currently live in – many people eagerly consume real-life tragedies as they play out on television in the news and reality television. Have you seen coverage of the countless conflicts raging around the world – the violence in Hunger Games is subdued compared to that. My daughter is 10 years old, in Year 5, and is currently reading the book and we are always talking about the strength of Katniss as an individual and person representing her home town and the oppressed people of society. As an English (Language Arts) teacher, I cannot fault the writing, story line or characters. This trilogy is the Harry Potter series of the current generation – it is all about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity.
I'll also refer to Tracee Orman(http://bit.ly/GK1sw6) who offers up the following reasons why Hunger Games is educational:
– Reading a high-interest novel motivates reluctant readers.
– Students can make connections from history to the present and have serious discussions about
our future through the novel.
– Students are exposed to characters that have the same fears, insecurities, struggles, and
emotions as them; though the settings and events are very different, they can relate to the
characters and see how they deal with challenges.
– It offers numerous opportunities in other content areas, such as:
Social studies: war-related topics (such as revolutions/rebellions, strategies, the Holocaust),
ancient Greek and Roman history, mythology, geography, social hierarchy, economics, politics,
and propaganda.
Business: advertising and marketing, branding, and business ethics.
Science: ecology, weather, natural and man-made disasters, herbalism, genetic engineering/
modification, and physics.
Technology: modern transportation and innovations.
Consumer Issues: food choices/harvesting/preparation, hunger/starvation, and the cost of
living.
Health: depression, alcoholism/substance abuse, dietary needs/nutrition, and
malnourishment.
Media: the effects of reality TV, desensitization, and persuasion.
Character Education: ethics/morals, bullying, compassion for others, leadership, and values.
– Students understand after reading that violence is unethical because the characters they love try
to do the right thing and act humanely.
Heather says
@townsey77
I do not believe it is healthy to expose children as young as 10 years to this series. You have a great list of reasons for approving this material, and as an adult you may be able to identify all these themes and rationalize the violence. Ask your daughter later, like when she is 17, if she thought it was appropriate for her to read. I think you will find her answer interesting. I was a mature child, an avid reader, etc. Looking back at the trash that I was forced into reading I now cringe. Just something to keep in mind. I know it's super popular right now so good luck.
I am sure your child is much more desensitized to violence than I am so I am sure it will all work out fine.
Jenny says
I'm going to have to agree with Heather here. I see no educational value in this book/movie.
I remember back to high school when we had to read Newsweek. The graphic images of war and violence are still in my mind. I might have been in 10th grade at the time, but I don't think it was appropriate for us to be reading Newsweek. I'm 32 years old now and still don't read it.
Heather has a point about how children are so desensitized now and probably won't even notice the violence. It doesn't have to be that way.
The Organized Classroom Blog says
I am glad we have a place to express our opinions freely, and we are all entitled to them. Thanks to everyone for sharing them, and thanks to the contributor for sharing a great freebie for those wishing to partake of it.
Sometimes it is fine to agree to disagree.
Charity
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