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. Why might it be important to ask questions and challenge long-held beliefs continually? Should individuals question authority figures who abuse power?

Teaching Suggestion: Poppy and her mouse family live in Gray House, an abandoned farmhouse under the rule of a tyrannical owl named Mr. Ocax. Poppy and her family members submit to the owl’s authority under the delusion that the owl will keep them safe. Poppy begins to doubt the loyalty of the mouse clan to the owl when she meets a city mouse named Ragweed, who questions the status quo of Gray House.

• This 5-minute video explains why questions are an important part of growth for individuals and society.
• This article explores the brain’s response to authority and why it may be difficult to question authority.

Short Activity

Poppy and her mouse community struggle to survive under the watch of a tyrannical owl, Mr. Ocax. Explore the definition of tyranny and speculate how an authoritarian government might function. Record your thoughts to use in a class discussion.