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. In the United States, there are over 400,000 kids in the foster care system on any given day, according to the nonprofit The Policy Circle. How does the foster care system work? What are the different conditions that might cause a child to enter the foster care system? What are some of the primary issues with the foster care system?

Teaching Suggestion: Carlie, Harvey, and Thomas J find themselves in foster care due to the neglect and abandonment by their caregivers, which is related to one of the key themes of The Pinballs: The Effects of Parental Abuse on Children. This prompt will give students a basic understanding of the way the foster care system in the United States works, and it will allow them to reflect upon the familial issues that might cause a child to land in the care of foster parents like Mr. and Mrs. Mason. Not reflected directly in The Pinballs, students should have their awareness raised to the fact that there are numerous issues with the foster care system.