West with Giraffes

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. What makes a zoo different from a circus? What are some benefits and drawbacks of zoos for both humans and animals? In what ways might a place that cages wild animals be considered humane or inhumane?

Teaching Suggestion: These questions can be used to activate students’ prior knowledge about zoos and animal welfare, which are key ideas in the text. After reading and/or discussing the following sources, you might reframe the questions to support a debate. This may encourage discussion and student engagement while raising important questions about related topics.  

• This website provides a behind-the-scenes view of the Depression Era carnival and circus.
• This article from the San Diego History Center explores the history of the San Diego zoo, including commentary regarding its vision for habitat immersion and conservation.

2. What was the Dustbowl? What caused this phenomenon, and what environmental and social upheaval did it create? How did it affect Americans in different parts of the country?

Teaching Suggestion: These questions are best used as either discussion or written responses after viewing the film linked below, Colorado Experience: The Dust Bowl.