No Prep Plans | The Hunger Games: Inside Panem Why 12 Districts and One Capitol?

No Prep Plans | The Hunger Games: Inside Panem — Power, Inequality & ControlWhy 12 Districts and One Capitol? | Build Panem Power Map

Help students move beyond the plot of The Hunger Games and investigate how the structure of Panem itself creates power, dependence, inequality, and control.
In this no-prep novel study lesson, students examine why Panem is organized around one powerful Capitol and twelve specialized districts. Students combine research with literary analysis to explore how geography, economic dependence, resource control, and separation contribute to the novel's setting and conflict. They then work collaboratively to design a Panem Power Map that visually communicates how power flows through Panem.

Grades: 6–10
Time: 1–2 class periods (45–60 minutes each)

What's Included
- Teacher directions
- Student-friendly overview
- Mini research questions
- 5-step group activity
- Reading Panem: Geography as Power analysis
- Follow the Power cause-and-effect analysis
- Design the Panem Power Map planning page
- Color student pages
- Printer-friendly black-and-white student pages

Students Will
- Analyze Panem's geographic and economic structure
- Investigate relationships between the Capitol and districts
- Examine power, inequality, dependence, and control
- Analyze setting as a literary device
- Consider intentional choices in Collins's world-building
- Connect structural choices to conflict and theme
- Develop a central argument about power in Panem
- Create and defend a collaborative Panem Power Map

Great For
- The Hunger Games novel studies
- Dystopian literature units
- Literary analysis
- Setting and world-building
- Theme and conflict
- Cross-curricular ELA + Social Studies
- Collaborative learning
- Extension or enrichment activities

Original Work & Novel Disclaimer
This resource is an independently created, original educational work designed to support the classroom study of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
This product is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by Suzanne Collins, her publishers, Scholastic, or any other rights holder associated with The Hunger Games. All trademarks, character names, novel titles, fictional locations, and other intellectual property associated with the novel remain the property of their respective rights holders.
No portion of the novel is reproduced or provided with this resource. This material is intended as supplemental classroom instruction and literary analysis and is designed to be used alongside legally obtained copies of the novel.
Please Note
- The novel itself is not included.
- Students may need internet access for portions of the research.
- Designed for classroom educational use.