Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Is silence valuable in today’s world? What are the possible benefits of silence? What might be the negative consequences of silence?

Teaching Suggestion: Protagonist Dave Packer discovers that Mahatma Gandhi, who promoted nonviolent ways of resisting British colonial rule of India, adopted a practice of remaining silent one day a week. Inspired, Dave quickly implements this practice, sparking a competition among his peers regarding who can speak the fewest words over two days—boys or girls. Students might extend their thinking on this topic by using an anchor t-chart to list the pros and cons of silence in various circumstances, then refer back to the anchor chart as they read the novel. Information from these or similar resources can help students develop additional context on the topics of noise pollution and the benefits of silence.

• This article explores noise pollution and its effects on humans and the environment.
• This 7-minute video explores the scientific benefits of silence.

Short Activity

In this activity, participate in a silent challenge: You and your classmates will line up in order based on a trait described by your teacher.