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

1. How much control do we have over our lives? To what extent are our lives affected by fate or by free will?

Teaching Suggestion: Chase’s father says fate caused lightning to strike him. He changes his whole life to chase storms. Chase grapples with the idea of fate at different points. Exploring these large topics before reading can help students access these complex ideas as they read. Completing an activity in the first resource offers a chance for more hands-on learning. It can give students concrete experience with abstract concepts. Perhaps journaling before reading and then adding to the journals during reading could allow students to build their understanding and see the value in continuing to explore ideas instead of just looking for one answer and moving on.

• “Is There Free Will to Change Who You Are?” includes activities and sub-topics to guide students through this enormous question.
• In “Do You Have Free Will? Yes, It’s the Only Choice,” The New York Times explores free will and determinism.