Orphan Train

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Portaging”

In this activity, students will reflect on their most important belongings and the stories they tell.

Molly and Vivian carry their belongings from home to home multiple times. If you were to pack a bag with your most important belongings, what would they be, and why?

• Reflect on what possessions Vivian and Molly care most about and why.
• Free write or list the items that you most care about and why.
• Design a bag or piece of luggage that symbolizes something about your identity.
• Decide what would go in that bag.
• Write a story your bag and belongings tell. This could be one story that incorporates all the belongings or separate stories.

Present to a small group. Then, display your bags and stories around the classroom.

Share in a whole-class discussion reflecting on this process, lessons learned, and connections to the novel.

Teaching Suggestion: This process could elicit a variety of emotions for students, and revisiting class norms and resources available if students need to talk will probably be important. This activity can be a powerful opportunity for community building.