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. Daoism (also spelled “Taoism”) is an ancient philosophical tradition that originated in China. List five things you think might be true about Daoism. Label each “know for sure” or “just guessing.”

Teaching Suggestion: Whale Talk’s main character, T.J., goes by a nickname because he is often teased about his legal first name, “The Dao.” Late in the novel, T.J. decides that his actions throughout the story have allowed him to live up to this name; students are unlikely to understand this aspect of his characterization and the philosophy the book is centering without a solid understanding of the basic ideas of Daoism. Although some students may already have this prior knowledge, it is likely that many will not. The resources listed below offer a general introduction to Daoism as well as in-depth coverage of two key Daoist ideas that are particularly relevant to Whale Talk. After students complete their initial responses to the prompt, you might offer them these resources and then give them time to add to or revise their responses.