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. When an event such as a natural disaster, war, or other conflict causes individuals to leave their home, what might be five essential items they take with them? Provide an explanation for each choice.

Teaching Suggestion: This question broaches the general discussion topic of the ways in which major conflicts affect individuals. As some students may have experienced similar circumstances, it may be fitting to consult with these learners beforehand and provide them with an alternative question. If students feel comfortable sharing, they might briefly explain their experiences with peers.

• “Evacuation” is a multilingual preparation guide published by the United States government that includes recommendations on preparing for evacuation from one’s home due to natural disaster.
• “Global Trends of War and Their Humanitarian Impacts” is a 2018 publication from the International Committee of the Red Cross that may provide language, terms, and ideas helpful in extending classroom discussion toward the topic of war’s effects on civilians, groups, relationships, and environments (teacher-appropriate; not student facing).