Refugee: Author's Craft, Themes & Evidence Bundle 10 Literary Analysis Lessons

Refugee: Author's Craft, Themes & Evidence Bundle
10 Literary Analysis + Group Project/Discussion Lessons | Grades 6–8

Take your Refugee novel study beyond comprehension with this bundle of 10 ready-to-use lessons focused on author's craft, literary analysis, and themes in Alan Gratz's novel.

Each lesson includes background information, guided research, textual analysis, and a collaborative group activity or project. Students examine how Gratz develops his three storylines while practicing critical thinking, discussion, and evidence-based reasoning.

10 Lessons Included
- Switching Between Three Stories – Explore how Gratz connects three different narratives.
- The Cliffhanger Effect – Analyze how cliffhangers keep readers engaged.
- How Alan Gratz Builds Suspense – Investigate the techniques Gratz uses to create tension.
- Visible vs. Invisible – Examine how visibility and invisibility affect the characters.
- What Does "Home" Mean? – Compare how Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud understand home.
- Borders & Barriers – Explore physical and figurative barriers across the three storylines.
- Family & Sacrifice – Investigate sacrifices made by characters and their families.
- Hope in Three Different Eras – Compare how hope appears across three historical periods.
- How Setting Drives Conflict – Analyze how historical and geographical settings shape conflict.
- What Is Gratz Ultimately Saying? – Bring the novel's themes and literary techniques together to explore its central message.

What's Included
Each of the 10 lessons includes:
- Teacher Directions for 1–2 class periods (45–60 minutes each)
- Student Overview with mini research questions
- Five-step group activity or project
- Three student worksheets for research, planning, and deeper analysis
- Color and black-and-white versions of student worksheets

Why Teachers Love It
- No-prep lessons ready for classroom use
- Encourages close reading and textual evidence
- Combines literary analysis with collaborative learning
- Builds critical thinking and discussion skills
- Includes creative group projects
- Works well for small groups or whole-class instruction
- Great for use throughout a novel study or as extension activities

This resource is an independent educational supplement and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Alan Gratz or the novel's publisher. A copy of the novel is required.