Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are some ways to counteract prejudice?

Teaching Suggestion: The characters face prejudice over their race, religion, age, etc. The class might define prejudice and discuss different forms before answering this prompt. Studying the resources here can expand ideas about how to stand up against prejudice. If time allows, students might expand this prompt into a research project. The Anne Frank House resource contains additional links. The class could also work together to develop a social justice action plan against prejudice.

• “The Top 10 Strategies for Reducing Prejudice” from Berkeley’s Greater Good magazine offers advice on ways people can fight against prejudice.
• “What Can You Do Against Prejudice?” from Anne Frank House includes a 5-minute video and brief article discussing prejudice.

Short Activity

Research what happened on 9/11, and explore the consequences of 9/11.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might have very different knowledge about 9/11, and since the book centers around it and the theme of The Lasting Effects of 9/11, increasing background knowledge is important. It could be powerful for students to approach this research in an open-ended way, sharing key insights that stay with them.