This book is for children ages 12 and up. "The Hunger Games" falls under the science fiction genre. It follows the science fiction themes of survival, life in the future, and mind control (Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe, 2010). I consider this book quality because the themes are meaningful and as Galda, Cullinan, & Sipe (2010) explain, quality science fiction should cause readers to think about life, contain imaginative and consistent events, with well developed characters (p.209). This book really made me consider my current situation and what could happen in the future. I wondered how I would behave in that situation and what I would do to prepare myself if the world ever turned to that construct.
Reader Response Questions:
1. How are children selected to participate in the Hunger Games, and how can someone get out of participating once selected?
2. What are some benefits of being selected as a tribute?
3. What skills does the main character have that you believe will help her in the game?
Motivational Activites:
1. If this were our current situation, would you conform to these daily requirements, or would you try to revolt? Write about why you chose to conform or revolt and what you would do to survive in either situation.
2. Society as depicted in this story is very different from our modern day society. The values and habits of the people are very different. Consider what you believe would be the "ideal" society. Write about it. What would it be structured like? What would be the role of law enforcement, what would be the monetary instruments, how would members of society interact with each other, and what activities would people participate in regularly?
"The Hunger Games" is the first book in the famous trilogy, which is now also a major motion picture. Suzanne Collins published the New York Times best selling 5-book series "The Underland Chronicles" before writing "The Hunger Games" (amazon, n.d.). She was also on the writing staff of several Nickelodeon shows! I have not read her other series, but I loved every one of the Hunger Games books. They were full of emotion for me, as I felt the characters and the world that Collins presented in her beautiful writings.
References
Amazon. (n.d.) Suzanne Collins. Retrieved from
http://www.amazon.com/SuzanneCollins/e/B001H6V7I0/
ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1428843394&sr=8-2-ent
Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York, NY: Scholastic
Press.
Galda, L., Cullinan, B., & Sipe, L. (2010). Literature and the child
(2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning
Awesome activities you've suggested! I have two alternatives that I feel would be very effective as well and promote effective learning and multi-subject collaboration as well!
ReplyDelete1) Radio Interview: As students read, ask them to accumulate a list of questions they would ask the main characters from the novel. After a cluster of chapters have been read, draw names from the class and ask those students to assume the identities of characters from the novel. Ask one student to assume the role of disc jockey. Have student ‘listeners’ call into the radio show to interview main characters by raising their hands and asking their questions. Students portraying characters should be aware of character motivations and actions before participating in the activity.
2) Mural of Hope: Students will create a mural of the novel. One way to decide which images to use for the mural would be to follow the plot structure of the novel when deciding which images to use so that the story is understood entirely from beginning to end. Students might also choose to limit their mural to images of themes or characters from the novel.
I really like the book and the movie Hunger Games. I think that great movivation activity is to have the students create their own utopia an through a wrench in the utopia such as no kids, no marriage, no religion and have the children discuss life without the traditions that we uphold...
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