Ninth Ward

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

“Hurricane”

• a poem in 3 brief sections about the experience of surviving a hurricane
• Students can connect the theme of Fortitude in the Face of Fear in the poem and novel.
• Students will use this poem in the Activity’s Paired Text Extension.

Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina

• a middle grade novel of historical fiction by Rodman Philbrick
• Students can connect this novel to Ninth Ward through each theme: Fortitude in the Face of Fear, Gratitude for Support and Help from Loved Ones, and Death as a Part of Life.

“Hurricane Katrina: Superdome Poem”

• In this two-minute video, the poet Sherman “Shakespear” Alexander performs an original poem based on his Katrina experiences.
• Students can connect the poem to Ninth Ward through the themes of Fortitude in the Face of Fear and Gratitude for Support and Help from Loved Ones.

“Katrina Stories from Gulf Coast Children”

• first-hand accounts written by children who experienced the storm on MagLiteracy.org
• Students can connect the accounts to Ninth Ward through the themes of Fortitude in the Face of Fear and Gratitude for Support and Help from Loved Ones.

Other Student Resources

“Hurricane Katrina: The Essential Timeline”

• National Geographic’s timeline article about Hurricane Katrina
• Students can use this article or a similar informative site to complete the Activity, “Hurricane Timeline.”

A True Book: Hurricane Katrina

• a nonfiction guide to Hurricane Katrina by Peter Benoit
• a National Geographic publication

Teacher Resources

“Hurricane Katrina 2005”

• background information on the storm from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

“Katrina Alters the View for New Orleans Artists”

• a seven-minute NPR segment on Morning Edition by Joel Rose

“See Where Kids Displaced by Katrina Ended Up”

• a 2015 Rolling Stone article providing a look 10 years later at the plight of individual youths affected by the storm