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. Cole, the protagonist of Touching Spirit Bear, is banished to a remote Alaskan island instead of serving time in jail for his crime. What do you know about alternative methods of criminal justice, either in America or around the world? Do you think that jail is an effective way to deal with people who commit crimes, especially youth? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may not be aware that other forms of criminal justice exist aside from jail; it may also be useful to explain what “criminal justice” means in this context. This question gauges students’ familiarity with the basic premise of the novel by examining how they feel about the way American society deals with people who have committed crimes. This question also connects to the theme of Healing and Reconciliation, Both Within and Outside of Oneself.

• “This Judge Wants to Stop Sending Kids to Jail: How We Can Help”: TEDx Talk on the potential benefits of restorative justice, particularly for young people; connects to the theme Healing and Reconciliation, Both Within and Outside of Oneself
• “
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Don't Miss Out!

  Access Teaching Guide Now