Teaching with The Hunger Games

As an educator, I have always thought it is important to not only know what my students are reading, but to read it as well. This way I can “speak their language” intelligently.  Because of this philosophy I was introduced to Harry Potter a few years ago, joyfully read the entire series, and was invited to view the movies with my son.

When The Hunger Games remained on the best seller list for so long, I decided there must be something of interest there. Over the winter break I read the entire trilogy. A couple of weeks ago we saw the movie. Our family “book talks” now center on the differences in the book and the movie, what the reviewers of both are saying, and a discussion of dystopia, utopia, futuristic, or a  post-apocalyptic North American society. One of us is seeing the movie a second time to enhance their qualifications to critique the authenticity and motives of the movie. I am just going to reread the book.

The love of reading gives us opportunities to think critically about not only literature but other media as well. It lets us make meaningful connections to our lives and our possibilities. Reading expands our minds and broadens our horizons. If we can use popular literature to engage our young readers, then by all means let’s do it. Maybe along the way our readers will learn to appreciate Shakespeare and Hemingway.

Below are resources and articles to help you incorporate The Hunger Games into your instruction.

May the odds be ever in your favor. Effie Trinket-The Hunger Games

Make it a good day.

Linda

Resources for The Hunger Games
(Appropriate for Grades 7-12) (Updated May 5, 2013)

• Top 7 Tips for Teaching The Hunger Games – Novel Novice
• The Hunger Games Lessons connect to the Olympics
• The Opening Ceremony: Comparing the Hunger Games to the Olympic Games
• May the Odds ever Be in Your Favor: Hunger Games to Promote Healthy Relationships
• The Hunger Games – Project-Based Learning from Edutopia
• “The Hunger Games” Novel Study
• Hunger Games Science: Investigating Genetically Engineered Organisms – New York Times The Learning Network
• Scholastic Resources
• Author Interviews and Reading
• Lesson Plan from Scholastic (pdf)
• Lesson Plan from Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award (pdf) 
• Lesson Plan from California Young Reader Medal (pdf)
• Lesson Plan from California Young Reader Medal (2) (pdf)
• Lesson Plans from Novelinks
• Lesson Plans from Rhode Island Teen Book Award
• Hunger Games Lessons
  (Free and Commercial materials)
• New York Times Learning Blogs
• Lesson Plans from Bright Hub: Novel Ideas: The Hunger Games Lesson Plan
• Lesson Plan from Indiana Library Federation (pdf)
• Passion for Learning Blog: Teaching the Hunger Games
• History tech blog – The Hunger Games
• Best Student Books for The Hunger Games Fans
• Hunger for Good Literature (article)
• No Better than a Jabberjay: 10 Recommendations Based on Hunger Games Eavesdropping. Nerdy Book Club Blog
• A Pre-Reading Activity for The Hunger Games. Visual Thesaurus
• Positive Lessons for Kids from The Hunger Games
• The Hunger Games Party and Activities Amity Middle School-Bethany Book Blog
  • Party
  • More Ideas
• The Hunger Games Quotes Goodreads
• Dystopian Literature Podcast ReadWriteThink
• A Second Look at the Hunger Games Podcast ReadWriteThink
• What Do You Hunger For? Wonder of the day. Wonderopolis
• Awesome Stories – The Hunger Games
• The Hunger Games Project – class project
  • Teaching The Hunger Games– introducing a new book into the curriculum using technology integration
• The Hunger Games Gender Empowerment Lesson Plan – Start Strong Teens
• The Hunger Games Webquest
• The Hunger Games Field Day
• 21 Craft Ideas for The Hunger Games
• Smartboard Activity – Using The Hunger Games to teach French
• Teaching Catching Fire
• The Hunger Games Lesson Plans @ Web English Teacher
• Novel Study Guide (Los Angeles County Office of Eduction)
• Free Bookmarks (Printable)
• Hunger Games Unit Plan $TPT