Throughout the story, Katniss and the other characters make decisions that cause something else (good or bad) to happen. All actions have consequences and The Hunger Games shows readers how these results might not be predictable. For example, Katniss treats Rue tenderly as she is dying, adding some humanity to the inhumane way in which she dies. As a result, the citizens of Rue’s district honor Katniss’ bravery and defiance against the situation by silently holding up their hands as a way to rebel against the Capitol and show their respect for Katniss and Rue.
Students should choose three instances where a character makes a choice and then show the consequence(s) of that action. For this activity, students should use the T-Chart layout and include both a title and description for each cell. They should then explain the cause and effect of every action in the respective description boxes.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in The Hunger Games. Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
Expand learning by applying the cause and effect strategy to different books. Practicing with a variety of stories helps students strengthen their critical thinking skills and recognize patterns in literature.
Pick another engaging book and discuss key plot points together. This ensures students understand the story and are ready to find meaningful cause and effect moments.
Demonstrate with a think-aloud as you connect a character’s choice to its outcome. Showing your thought process helps students learn how to approach the task independently.
Encourage students to organize their findings visually by drawing a T-Chart. Have them label one side ‘Cause’ and the other ‘Effect’ to clearly display their thinking.
Invite students to present their T-Charts and explain their reasoning. Discussing various perspectives deepens understanding and builds classroom engagement.
A cause and effect activity for The Hunger Games asks students to identify actions characters take and the resulting consequences. Using a T-Chart, students show each cause (what happened) and its effect (the outcome), helping them understand how choices drive the story forward.
To teach cause and effect with The Hunger Games, have students select key character decisions and their outcomes. Ask them to illustrate these pairs in a T-Chart, then write short descriptions explaining how each action led to a specific result. This visual and written approach deepens comprehension.
Examples include Katniss treating Rue kindly (cause), which leads to District 11 honoring her (effect), and Peeta joining the Careers (cause), making Katniss mistrust him (effect). These moments show how characters’ choices impact the plot and relationships.
A T-Chart is a graphic organizer with two columns: one for causes and one for effects. In a cause and effect lesson, students list an event or action in the left column and the resulting outcome in the right, adding descriptions to explain the connections.
Understanding cause and effect helps students see how characters’ decisions shape the plot and highlight themes like resistance and consequence. It builds critical thinking skills and makes the story more meaningful and memorable.