Catching+Fire

Collins, S. (2009). Catching fire. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
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Catching Fire is the second in a series of three books written by Suzanne Collins. In the first book the reader is introduced to Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year-old girl that displays remarkable bravery and zeal when she volunteers to take the place of her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen, in the annual Hunger Games. Katniss along with her fellow tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark, become victors, a feat that has never taken place before. In Catching Fire, Katniss and her fellow victor, Peeta Mellark have returned to District 12 and are preparing to partake in the annual tour of all twelve districts, known as the Victory Tour. Though Katniss and Peeta have made it back to District 12, much has changed. Katniss is torn between her relationship with Gale, her hunting partner and best friend, and the love that she and Peeta shared that saved them during the Hunger Games. As Katniss and Peeta try to survive the nightmares that haunt them from the Hunger Games an undercurrent of rebellion against the Capitol spreads throughout the districts. Katniss and Peeta fight to protect all those they love through planning to get married in order to prove their love for each other. However, their nemesis, President Snow, declares that on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell, the tributes would be selected from their district’s existing victors. Katniss and Peeta return to the arena with victors from previous Hunger Games. In their fight to survive Katniss and Peeta become allies with unlikely individuals, each vowing to protect Katniss regardless of the sacrifice, because she is the symbol of the rebellion. In a climatic conclusion, Katniss is rescued from the arena and transported to District 13, where she learns that Peeta has been captured by the Capitol, most of the districts are in rebellion, and District 12 no longer exists.
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Catching Fire is an excellent novel for many ages. This novel is particularly appropriate for seventh through tenth graders. The Hunger Games did an excellent job of capturing the audience’s attention, leaving the reader craving more. Catching Fire picks up exactly where Hunger Games left off and leaves the reader with the same desire to keep reading. This book includes action, romance, politics, and adventure. The futuristic aspect of the novel also encourages students to look beyond the world we live in today and imagine a time where even America could fall prey to an evil dictatorship. I also feel it is quite significant that the main characters of the series are teenagers. I believe that many students will find themselves comparing and contrasting their own lives and personalities to the characters of Catching Fire.
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Social Studies: Science: English Language Arts: Math:
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 * Students will receive a map of the United States. Students will label and describe where they would label the 12 districts of Capitol, utilizing the text to support their argument for where each district would be located.
 * Students will study the Declaration of Independence and create their own argument why the districts of Panem should have revolted.
 * Students will create their own clock replica of the arena described in Catching Fire.
 * Students will compare and contrast how the characters in the Quell had to utilize/adapt to their environment in order to survive.
 * Students will discuss symbolism analyzing the food and weaponry (specialty) associated with each district.
 * Students will create a Word Splash by picking a character from Catching Fire and using words/images to represent that character.
 * Students will conduct a character analysis in order to create a Statistics/Probability chart trying to determine the survival rate of each of the Quell characters.
 * Students will plot the “districts” on a graph and solve word problems associated with each event that occurs for each hour in the arena.