All We Have Left

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 are some ways to counteract prejudice?

Teaching Suggestion: The characters face prejudice over their race, religion, age, etc. The class might define prejudice and discuss different forms before answering this prompt. Studying the resources here can expand ideas about how to stand up against prejudice. If time allows, students might expand this prompt into a research project. The Anne Frank House resource contains additional links. The class could also work together to develop a social justice action plan against prejudice.

• “The Top 10 Strategies for Reducing Prejudice” from Berkeley’s Greater Good magazine offers advice on ways people can fight against prejudice.
• “What Can You Do Against Prejudice?” from Anne Frank House includes a 5-minute video and brief article discussing prejudice.

Short Activity

Research what happened on 9/11, and explore the consequences of 9/11.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might have very different knowledge about 9/11, and since the book centers around it and the theme of The Lasting Effects of 9/11, increasing background knowledge is important. It could be powerful for students to approach this research in an open-ended way, sharing key insights that stay with them. Another approach could be a webquest, with students answering who, what, where, when, why, and how, writing additional questions, and searching for those answers in these and other resources. The class might watch the “Personal Stories” from the History Channel resource before reading, which can make this time in history real and also offer connections to the novel, which centers on personal stories.

• “9/11 FAQs” from the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum offers insights into some common questions. There are additional links for further research.
• “September 11, 2001: Attack on America” from the History Channel includes numerous links with different focuses about 9/11.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from help focusing their research, it might be helpful to have a list of sub-topics and specific questions for them to choose from.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Why do some people help others even if they risk pain or it endangers them?

Teaching Suggestion: Travis and Alia help Julia. Adam steps in to protect Jesse. Firefighters run into the towers to rescue strangers. Students might have specific personal examples to discuss, or you might consider bringing in current events. Defining the idea of helping others—what it looks like, what it means—can be a starting point. Encouraging students to consider different forms that help can take can lead to more nuanced responses to the prompt. After reading the novel, the class might return to this topic and discuss or write about what the book reveals about this idea.