Instruct students to maintain reading response journals while they read through “Catching Fire.” At critical points in the story, before the plot advances, ask students to journal about what they would do or choose if they were the character contemplating his options. For example, in the beginning of the story, main character Katniss plans to run away and take her family and loved ones with her. Before students find out what Katniss decides, have them make an entry in their response journals about what they would do if they were Katniss. Afterward, hold a class discussion about what Katniss should do and why.
Use the book as a way to help students develop their public speaking and research skills. Use the book’s key themes of survival and hunger to host a mock debate about those issues in your class. Divide the class in half and assign one half to take the position that the capitol’s decision to offer a life of plenty and security to the winner of the games was right. Assign the other half to hold the position that the capitol’s decision was wrong. Instruct the students to prepare two-minute arguments based on facts from the book, including specific excerpts as justification for their position. Have each team select a representative to open the mock debate. Have each side give its argument and act as a judge to decide which team does the best job of making its case. Repeat the exercise throughout the reading of the book, keeping track of who is speaking and who is not. Make sure the same student does not speak more than once so that as many students as possible have the opportunity to develop their public speaking skills.
Use the plot development at the beginning of the book where Katniss and Peeta must go on a Victory Tour throughout their country in celebration of their winning the previous year’s Hunger Games as an opportunity for an art project. Divide students into small groups of three or four and have them work together to design victory costumes or outfits for the characters. Make the students sketch their ideas. Provide extra credit to teams willing to actually make their costumes. Have the groups write victory speeches for the characters and then deliver them to the class, which will also support the development of public speaking skills.
Discuss as a class how the society of Panem, which is set in the future in “Catching Fire,” is similar to and different from current American culture. Help students think about elements that run throughout the two cultures, such as coal mining and reality-based television series, both of which are featured in the book and in current American culture. Discuss aspects that are different, such as the annual Hunger Games, and whether any of the scenarios presented in the book are capable of occurring in American culture today.