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 is the origin of track and field events? What are the different events in track and field? After you have made a list of events, create at least 3 different ways to categorize the events and sort items on your list into the categories.

Teaching Suggestion: Track and field as a competitive sport is very important to Patty, the protagonist of Patina. Gaining additional background regarding the events can offer students a greater understanding of plot events and increase interest as they read about practices and meets. Categories might include track or field; arm strength or leg strength; skill or speed. The video resource provides visuals of a relay and the passing of the baton, a significant symbol in the novel. Since it is brief, the class might view it multiple times, perhaps once before reading, again after Chapters 4 and 5, and again after the ending of the novel. To better visualize and prepare for the cliffhanger ending, the video might be paused before the end of the race.