Consider Cloyd’s interpretation of the word “family.” How does his understanding of this social unit change throughout the novel? Does this word extend to just humans or to animals as well? How does the idea of family in Hobbs’s novel compare to your understanding of The Need For Family? Explain.

Teaching Suggestion: This Prompt invites students to consider their response from the Personal Connection Prompt in connection with the novel. Hobbs’s text indicates the importance of family; however, this family does not need to be nuclear and biological. It can also extend to mentors, close friends, extended family, and even animals. Cloyd is able to make this differentiation at the end of the novel when he chooses to remain with Walter, despite the fact that he is now able to return to his grandmother’s house.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

PRESENTATION: “Sacred Animals in Indigenous Communities”

In this Activity, students will research and present the background of a particular sacred animal for Indigenous communities in North America.

In the novel, Cloyd highlights the importance of the bear as a sacred animal to the Ute community.