Share Your Love for Catching Fire & Be Featured in New Scholastic Book Trailer

Scholastic is inviting The Hunger Games trilogy fans to submit their own videos to YouTube to be considered for their new book trailers. You can watch the Scholastic video below for more details:...

Share Your Favorite Poems for Poem in Your Pocket Day

Last year I wrote a "Things That Make Me Go Hmmm..." post called "Which poems would Katniss and Peeta Carry for Poem in Your Pocket Day?" You can use the same prompt with any novel for any...

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Teaser Trailer (with Classroom Connections)

This is the official "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser trailer from Lionsgate® (Lions Gate Entertainment); the movie will be released November 22, 2013. CLASSROOM CONNECTION Teachers: If you...

Catching Fire Teaser Trailer Tonight on MTV!

I was going to hold off and write up a post after the trailer airs, but decided I wanted to get the word out to you all to make sure you watch it tonight first. I will write my response to it later...

Catching Fire Movie Trailer and Chapter 5 Symbolism: Effie's ?Wings??

The first time I watched the "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser released yesterday by MTV, it was obvious the setting was District 11 on the Victory Tour. The Victory Tour is one of my...

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer to Air April 14th During MTV Movie Awards

Yes, you read that correctly. We will finally get to see a trailer for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in little over a week! And that's not all; if you click on the video below, you can see a...

Happy Easter, Friends!

For those who celebrate it, Happy Easter! I don't know the original source of the Peeps-inspired parody, but The Hunger Games Community Facebook Page posted it this morning. {If you know who...

Catching Fire: Interview Foreshadowing

In chapter 17, pages 248-249, Cinna has just helped Katniss into her wedding gown for the final tribute interviews with Caesar Flickerman. After instructing her to do a twirl like she had the...

March Madness, Panem-Style!

Every year I get the March Madness fever. I don't watch basketball at all throughout the year (except for my son's team, of course), but when those NCAA brackets are released, I'm a sucker for...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Haymitch Style: Exploring Heritage in The Hunger Games

St. Patrick's Day seems to be a fitting holiday for Haymitch: stumbling drunks are just part of the festivities. But, it does make me wonder (perhaps I should write, "it's one of the Things That...

Celebrating Shakespeare: The Ides of March Are Come...But Not Gone

March 15th is upon us, which means it is officially the ides of March, or middle of the month. Of course, this statement has much deeper meaning than just professing the date. It is the day Julius...

Snow Day? Every day is Snow Day in Panem

We have a snow day today, so I couldn't resist making this meme with President Snow. While I'm at it, here are some of my favorite images lately (these were not created by me): from:...

Meme Assignment Your Students Will Love

Teaching the second half of the year is always the most challenging. We have fewer breaks and we all tend to get spring fever. If you have seniors, there's also the dreaded "senioritis" they all...

'The Katniss Chronicles' to Return for 'Part II'

I have to share this fabulous press release with you all because I am SO excited for the Catching Fire adaptation by my talented friends at The Katniss Chronicles. If you have never listened to...

The Beauty of Rereading a Novel...

The beauty of rereading a novel: those little gems you didn't notice the first time. Spoiler alert: If you have not read Catching Fire, you should stop reading as there is a major spoiler here....

Every Day is President's Day in Panem

Every day is President's Day in Panem. Or, at least President Snow would like to be honored each day, it seems. You can take this opportunity to discuss with your students the purpose of having a...

You Are As Radiant As the Sun, Valentine

You are as radiant as the sun, Valentine. As Valentine's Day quickly approaches, don't forget about my FREE Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay-themed Valentine's Day cards. Just print,...

Catching Fire...The ?What If...? Questions

A couple of years ago I posted my "What if..." questions for The Hunger Games. I thought it would only be fair to do the same for Catching Fire and Mockingjay (coming soon). "What if" questions are...

Super Activity Incorporating the Super Bowl Commercials

It's super bowl weekend and you know what that means! Super commercials! ;) I think the super bowl is the only time when someone will shush people when commercials come on. Unless it's a trailer...

Valentine's Day Free Lessons Link-Up

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, so here's an opportunity to incorporate a fun lesson into your Hunger Games, Catching Fire, or Mockingjay unit. You can read more about these Valentines on...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompt

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. Use the following journal prompt (from A Year of Journal Prompts) either as an individual writing assignment or to prompt a class...

A Million Thanks from Hunger Games Lessons!

I started writing Hunger Games Lessons posts in November, 2010. It seems so long ago and I often wondered if anyone would even read what I had to share. Now, a little over two years later, I'm...

Is Your Class Participating in World Read Aloud Day?

World Read Aloud Day is Wednesday, March 6th. You and your class can sign up to participate in this event on the LitWorld website. Help spread literacy and exercise your freedom to read! The site...

Is the Message of ?The Hunger Games? Lost on Those Who Haven't Read the Book?

A "Things That Make Me Go Hmmm..." Post We all know that the novels versions are almost always better than their movie counterparts. And we all know that there are going to be people who won't read...

2013: The Year That Catches Fire - Classroom Connections in Marketing

It's almost 2013, which means The Year of The Hunger Games is coming to a close. Two-thousand and twelve was a great year for fans and all the thousands of students who were able to read The Hunger...

Katniss' Coping Techniques: Remembering Acts of Goodness

In Mockingjay, Katniss makes a list of all the acts of goodness around her to cope with her depression from the horrific acts she witnessed and lived through. As we cope with the Sandy Hook...

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

A sad, sad day

From a teacher and a parent, I cannot even express how broken my heart is for this school and community. It's just so incredibly sad. Please keep the people of Newtown in your thoughts.

12-12-12 Writing Prompts

Happy 12-12-12! Are you doing anything special in your classes? What will you be doing at 12:12 p.m. today? If you are on your computer, take a screenshot for fun. Here's some quick writing prompts...

Four Calling Birds! Day 4 of The 12 Days of Gift-mas for Secondary Teachers

Welcome to The Twelve Days of Gift-mas blog hop for secondary teachers! Each day you'll find a fantastic freebie that can be used in a middle or high school classroom. Thanks for coming by to Mrs....