The setting of a story is the location and time, or the where and when. Settings often play a crucial role especially in the case of historical fiction or when there are multiple places and timelines as is the case in Refugee by Alan Gratz. In order to help students keep track of each setting, they can create a storyboard that describes the where and when of each setting.. The template provided allows for multiple settings, and students can add or remove as necessary. This is also a great assignment for students to do research about the time periods in which each story takes place in order to better understand their historical context beyond what is provided in the novel.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard identifying the different settings in the book, Refugee.
Student Instructions:
Help students break down the novel by having them list major plot events under each setting. This encourages critical thinking about how the setting influences what happens and helps students see connections between place, time, and character actions.
Encourage students to create a simple timeline that matches major events with each setting. Visual timelines help students track the sequence of events and see how the settings shift over the course of the story.
Assign students a brief research task about each setting's historical background. Connecting fiction to real history builds empathy and deeper comprehension of the challenges faced by the characters.
Arrange for students to present their setting maps to classmates. Sharing interpretations helps students learn from each other and notice different details in the text.
Refugee by Alan Gratz features three main settings: 1930s Nazi Germany, 1990s Cuba, and 2015 Syria. Each setting follows a young refugee’s journey, highlighting the historical context and challenges faced in each time and place.
Students can create a storyboard that identifies the time and place for each main setting in Refugee. Using a template, they can organize their ideas visually and add evidence from the text to support their descriptions.
A setting map activity asks students to chart the different locations and time periods in Refugee. This helps them visualize the journeys of each character and understand the historical context surrounding their stories.
Understanding the setting helps students grasp the historical events and cultural backgrounds that shape the characters’ experiences in Refugee. It deepens comprehension and empathy for real-world refugee stories.
Teachers can assign storyboard projects where students identify and illustrate the main settings in Refugee. This visual approach encourages engagement, research, and close reading of the novel’s historical details.