The Hunger Games in the classroom? Yes, Please!
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Jan 10, 2024
The Hunger Games Teaching Ideas
With a fast paced story line, engaging characters, and a much loved movie adaptation, The Hunger Games continues to be a favorite Young Adult novel. That being said, some parents and educators have expressed concerns about the novel’s violence and mature content. However, I believe there are several reasons why The Hunger Games is an excellent choice for classroom instruction.
On the hunt for a COMPLETE novel study for The Hunger Games that you can print and use right away? Click on the image or button below to download a copy!
The Hunger Games can help students understand and empathize with characters who are experiencing difficult situations.
The story of The Hunger Games is, at its heart, a story of survival. Katniss Everdeen is thrust into a situation where she must fight for her life against 23 other children. While this may seem like a far-removed scenario for most students, it can actually help them to understand and empathize with characters who are experiencing difficult situations. By reading The Hunger Games, students can explore what it means to persevere in the face of adversity and to maintain hope in the midst of despair.
The Hunger Games can help students think critically about important issues such as violence, war, and social class.
The Hunger Games doesn’t shy away from difficult topics such as violence, war, and social class. In fact, it forces readers to confront these issues head-on. This makes The Hunger Games an excellent choice for stimulating critical thinking and discussion in the classroom. Through their reading of the book (and viewing of the movie), students can analyze different characters’ motivations and actions, consider the implications of different events, and debate solutions to complex problems.
The Hunger Games can help students develop a love for reading.
Let’s be honest: not every student is going to be interested in reading a dense piece of literature like War and Peace. But that doesn’t mean that we should give up on trying to get them to read! Instead, we should look for books that will capture their interest and spark their imaginations. I believe that The Hunger Games fits that bill perfectly. With its fast-paced plot and fascinating dystopic settings, The Hunger Games is the kind of book that will hook even the most reluctant reader. Once they’re hooked, we can then introduce them to other great works of literature! It makes a great introduction to the dystopic genre, making it a great segue into more challenging texts like 1984 and Brave New World.
If you’re interested in exploring more novels within the dystopian genre, suitable for middle school students, check out our list of 3 Dystopian Novels for Middle School. These selections can complement your curriculum and offer a broader perspective on dystopian literature.
To deepen your students’ understanding of the dystopian genre and its characteristics, our resource on What is Dystopian Literature? provides valuable insights. This can be a great tool to help students appreciate the nuances of dystopian narratives and their relevance in literature.
So there you have it—three reasons why I believe that teachers should consider using The Hunger Games in their classrooms. Of course, ultimately it’s up to each individual teacher to decide whether or not they want to include the novel in their classroom curriculum. However, I believe that this engaging novel has a lot to offer both teachers and students alike!
Looking for a complete Hunger Games Novel Study?
Click here or on the image below to grab a COMPLETE unit to go along with this engaging novel. This unit contains comprehension questions, answer keys, graphic organizers, and creative projects!
Looking for a FREE resource to use along with this novel?
Click here or on the image below to snag these FREE group discussion cards!
On the hunt for more novel study activities?
Check out the blog posts below!
7 Tips for Planning Your Next Novel Study
Building Novel Study Engagement
Upper Elementary Novel Study Favorites
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