Little Bee

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

What makes a person a hero? Can anyone be a hero, or is heroism a special quality that only some people possess? Could a person’s perception of themselves influence their potential for heroism?

Teaching Suggestion: This personal connection prompt prepares students for the theme Heroism and One’s Self-Image. Little Bee contains many instances where characters face opportunities for heroism, with victorious and tragic results. Many characters create alter-egos for themselves or have aliases that they use to protect their true identities like superheroes do. Additionally, one character, Charlie, is a small boy who fantasizes that he is Batman. Before students respond to the prompt, it may help to create a list of different kinds of heroes in both fictional and nonfictional contexts with the class.

• “Want to Give Your Life More Meaning? Think of It As a ‘Hero’s Journey’” is an article from Time Magazine that explains why it might help to visualize yourself as a hero. 
• “The Psychology of Heroism” from Stanford Magazine examines what causes normal people to stand up and be heroes when it matters.   

Short Activity  

Reflect on what you know about the nation of Nigeria, then consider the following questions: How was its present country formed? What is its relationship to the United Kingdom? Why would wealthy British citizens vacation in Nigeria? Research five facts about the country and its relationship to the United Kingdom, then share your findings with your classmates.

Teaching Suggestion: This prepares students to learn about Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and one of the most populous countries in the world. Modern Nigeria’s history was formed in the crucible of British colonization, which was at its peak at the end of the 19th century. The country took its present shape in 1914 at the order of the British Empire and was granted independence from British rule in 1960. To avoid overlapping facts in student reports, consider assigning groups a specific question to research.

• The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs touts Nigeria’s tourist attractions and offers much more information on the country.
• “The Republic of Biafra” from the American Historical Association explains the bloody history of the short-lived nation that lasted from 1966-1970 and influenced modern Nigerian history.

Differentiation Suggestion: Concrete thinkers may want to identify important events in Nigerian history on a physical timeline or use globes, while technologically-minded students may prefer using Google Earth. Advanced learners may choose to do this activity independently, but other learners, especially those with processing difficulties, may prefer to work in small groups. Each student could be responsible for finding two facts about Nigeria before combining their answers and sharing them with their peers.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

In theatrical performances, actors often wear masks to represent characters with qualities different from their own. Outside of the theater, however, people still wear masks—metaphorical ones—to accomplish similar goals. Why do people hide information about themselves in this way? What are the potential benefits and what might be dangerous about pretending to be someone else? In your response, consider the various people and professions you have been exposed to in your life.

Teaching Suggestion: This personal connection prompt introduces the theme of Heroism and One’s Self-Image. In the novel, many characters, including the titular Bee, alter their appearance or lie about their identity as a way of self-protection. To help students generate ideas, consider discussing real-life examples that are appropriate for the class level and environment. This could include celebrities, political candidates, famous people that were in witness protection, or simply someone adopting a friendly persona for a customer service job.