Out of the Dust

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. When did the Great Depression occur, and how did it affect people’s lives?

Teaching Suggestion: Since the setting of the book plays such a pivotal role, background information like this can help students get more out of the reading. Discussing what specific details students notice in the photographs can lead to identifying patterns and making inferences about the time period. The suggested article offers some cause-and-effect analysis of the times. Perhaps after studying the following or similar resources, students can discuss or journal about connections between the resources and the novel.

• “5 Causes of the Great Depression” provides background information about some of the historical contexts of the novel.
• This collection of images explores the Great Depression through photographs and background information.

2. How did people find hope in the middle of the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic? How might those who are still dealing with the pandemic’s effects manage to find hope?

Teaching Suggestion: This question can connect a recent worldwide health crisis with the calamitous impacts of the events of the novel. Students might relate more to this topic since they lived through the pandemic. Students who might still be living with the aftereffects of the pandemic may experience some intense feelings and require extra support when addressing these questions. The Teen Vogue article might offer an opportunity to see which of the reflections students relate to or to write about their own feelings about school during the pandemic. The Time collection has many different people and areas of focus, so it provides agency for students to choose which text to read. The Time for Kids article might be helpful and more accessible for younger audiences.

• In “Finding Hope Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic,” Time presents advice from different leaders on how to find hope in crisis.
• This Teen Vogue article interviews multiple teenagers about their experiences with school during the pandemic.
• This Time for Kids article interviews young people about their emotions during the pandemic.

Short Activity

Working in small groups and using reputable resources, research the event known as the Dust Bowl. Answer the following questions:

• When did the Dust Bowl happen?
• How did farming contribute to dust storms?
• Why was it called the Dust Bowl?
• How were farms impacted?
• What were some ways the dust storms affected everyday life for many people?
• What images from the time period stand out to you? Why?

Teaching Suggestion: Since the dust plays such an integral role in the novel, having some time to research and discuss in small groups could provide students with a more in-depth understanding of the world Billie Jo lives in. This research connects to the themes of Finding Hope Amidst Tragedy, Resilience of the Human Spirit, and The Impact of Ignorance on Environment and Society. One way to approach this activity could be to assign groups of 3 students each to work on 2 questions each, offer research time, and then structure small-group discussion time. Alternatively, all groups might create posters based on their research; then, the class could participate in a gallery walk. After the activity, a reflection might include what takeaways students will remember as they read.

• This Library of Congress resource page provides information and images on the event and time period.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

How do you define “hope”? What is your rationale for this definition?

Teaching Suggestion: Deep reflection on this sometimes seemingly simple concept can help as students read the novel. Billie Jo and her family face many situations that might seem hopeless, yet they persevere. Returning to these definitions at different times during the reading might be powerful. It might also be useful to students to free write and then discuss as a class or to brainstorm ideas as a class and then journal. Clifton’s poem below explores hope in the face of hardship. It is short enough for multiple readings and can get students accustomed to verse, in which Out of the Dust is written. The article presents hope in the form of young people taking positive action to help their communities and protect nature. Engaging with this second resource could offer students a chance to help them connect with the topic of the environment, something that plays a large role in the novel.

• In “Won't You Celebrate With Me” by Lucille Clifton, the speaker delights in her own personal strength.
• “Kid Heroes for the Planet” reports on young people leading environmental change.