A Unique Hunger Games Literature Study and Book Club
I knew that a Hunger Games literature study would be the perfect way to start our year.
My oldest, Kayleigh, was in 7th grade and this would be the perfect series to engage her at the beginning of the year. It also helped that I planned a monthly school-year book club with her friends and our kick-off meeting would now be a Hunger Games book club.
Our book club members were thrilled because this Hunger Games Literature Study for Kids was going to be so much fun. We were ready to celebrate this book in a way the girls would not soon forget!
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Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Length: 384 pages
First Published: 2010
View on Amazon | View on Goodreads
Publisher’s Description Of Hunger Games
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games,” a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.
Hunger Games Book Club For Kids: Being Effie
Part of the fun we had at our first meeting was completely coincidental. Months ago I decided to be one of my favorite Hunger Games characters, Effie Trinket, for Halloween. I had already purchased a dress and wig so I decided to finish my costume in time for the book club.
I went on a crazy last-minute tear for the final touches so that Effie Trinket could arrive at our Hunger Games book club:
Make-up from the teenage girl down the street.
My first pair EVER of false eyelashes.
Paper Butterflies for the dress.
Pink spray paint for the wig.
Extra crazy black feather hairpiece to add to the wig.
Outrageously high heels.
Effie arrived in time for the book club.
I decided to refer to the girls at the book club as tributes for the evening and two of my tributes were riding to the book club with me.
Hunger Games Book Club: The Décor
Many of the moms take a turn hosting book club. This month, we arrived to find a Hunger Games-inspired table for discussion.
Bread from the districts.
Cornucopia waffle cones.
Capital hot chocolate.
Night lock (chocolate-covered berries).
And each tribute received a silver parachute from their sponsor. The silver parachutes were an important part of the Hunger Games and this little detail was just perfect.
Hunger Games: Book Discussion Ideas
I had a few little tricks up my sleeve to encourage the girls to share their thoughts during our book club discussion.
Unbeknownst to the girls, I brought slips of paper and a large glass bowl to collect the names of my tributes. Each girl had to write her name on a slip of paper and put it in the bowl.
Then they were able to help themselves to some snacks.
Once each girl had a plate full of food, I asked them to count how many snacks were on their plate. For each snack, they had to write their name on an additional piece of paper.
Extra tribute entries were required in exchange for their “tesserae”.
Hunger Games Literature Study: Book Club Discussion
The girls gathered for a discussion as part of our Hunger Games literature study. I picked my discussion questions for the evening and numbered them from 1 to 10.
I drew the name of a tribute and asked that child to pick a number between 1 and 10 and that was the question we discussed. If my question was met with silence, then I drew another name.
Drawing names was a great strategy to keep the discussion moving. And many giggles were provided due to my quick-witted daughter who wrote a variety of names on the slips of paper. It was a little tough for Finnick or Primrose to answer any of our questions, though reading, “Primrose Everdeen” out of my tribute jar felt very authentic.
One ornery child wrote “Effie Trinket” on the slip of paper and I drew my own name. Laughing along with them, I selected our next question.
After a lively discussion and a ton of laughter, the girls watched the movie while the moms had two hours to catch up.
I absolutely loved this evening. This Hunger Games literature study for kids was a ton of fun. We can’t wait for our next book club meeting.
Hunger Games: Complete Book Club Guide
Ready to have the work done for you as you plan a Hunger Games book club?
This Hunger Games Book Club guide includes everything you need: 10 discussion questions, ideas for decorations, book-themed food and snacks, and games/activities for your time together:
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Ultimate Collection of Book Clubs for Kids
She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. You can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Mary Hanna Wilson.
She is an enneagram 7 and an extrovert. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, and books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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Do you do all the books listed for those age ranges? How many books per year do you think you cover? What other English/writing curriculum do you pair with Arrow or boomerang?
Mariah, I subscribe to the yearly guides. We complete 8-9 out of the 10 in a year. We do once a month. I use some of the Brave Writer writing guides (Jot it down and Partnership Writing) We also use some formal spelling and grammar here and there. Hope that helps!
Best ever, well done Effie ??????
It was so much fun! Thanks!