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. World War II was the largest and deadliest war in history. How do you think the war affected peoples’ everyday lives? How would your life be changed if the country was currently engaged in a global conflict? How do you think a war today is different from WWII, which took place in the 1940s?

Teaching Suggestion and Helpful Links: World War II informs the lives of all the characters in Stepping on the Cracks, from home to school. Take the students on a virtual field trip and explore historical images and videos of World War II to give them a sense of the magnitude of the conflict, and its impact on daily life.

• Snapshot: The Decades: 1940s from PBS Western Reserve features footage from the era and gives a concise and engaging look at the war’s impact abroad and at home.
• America’s Call to Arms  and The Civilian Services are actual newsreels from Periscope Film that depict the nation’s attitude toward the war.