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 do you think of when you hear the word “community”? Are all groups and shared spaces, such as neighborhoods or schools, communities? Why or why not? What specific components or qualities make a community? Does everyone need to belong for a space to be called a community? What kinds of barriers or challenges might prevent the creation of community in a shared space? What would it take for people in that space to overcome those challenges?

Teaching Suggestion: These questions work best as a quick brainstorm activity to activate prior knowledge before delving into one or more of the informational resources below. These questions can guide a class discussion or a small group discussion; they can also work as a think-pair-share or individual journal activity. Students may benefit from graphic organizers such as a T-chart or Venn diagram to help organize their thinking, invite comparison and contrast, and record their brainstorming. English Language Learners or emerging readers may benefit from pre-highlighted or annotated versions of the texts below. This prompt connects to the theme of Overcoming Separation With a Shared Goal.