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

What was the Blitz during World War II? How might the Blitz have had an impact on individuals on the British home front?

Teaching Suggestion: Ada—now living with Susan in the country—continues to wrestle with complications that arise from World War II. Rationing, blackouts, and volunteer work are just some of the struggles Ada and her family face daily. Once students have a chance to brainstorm on this topic based on previous learning from social studies class and other prior knowledge, consider discussing the Blitz in Britain as a group and allow students to analyze the extent that it impacted the lives of the individuals who lived there. These and similar resources might be useful in taking an in-depth look at the Blitz and the British home front.

• This article describes life in Britain on the home front during WWII.
• This 7-minute video explains the Blitz, how it began, and its impact on Britain.

Short Activity

Review The War That Saved My Life to recall important concepts before reading The War I Finally Won.