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

What do you know about what life is like on a farm, for both humans and for animals? What kind of work must humans do daily to care for the animals? What kinds of animals live on a typical farm? How might these animals raised in captivity fare if they escaped or had to live in the wilderness?

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may have more familiarity with farms that raise animals, but even those who have never visited a farm may speculate about the types of animals and the task of raising/caring for them that humans on a farm face daily. This question can help students connect to the setting and the human and personified animal characters in the novel. To engender further student thinking on these topics, you may encourage them to consider—from the personified animals’ perspectives—the contrast between freedom and captivity, having one’s needs provided versus having to hunt for oneself, and the sense of community among species (Strong Bonds of Friendship) that exists on the farm for these animals that would not necessarily be present in the wild for them.