Free Lunch Rex Ogle full novel study lessons, click HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT)

Free Lunch by Rex Ogle is a powerful and inspiring story of resilience, perseverance, and hope that can be used as a teaching tool in the classroom. The book follows a young boy, Devon, who lives in poverty with his mother and struggles to attend school without proper resources. Through this story, students can learn about poverty and how it affects people’s daily lives. In this blog post, we will discuss how educators can use this book to teach their students about poverty while also addressing difficult topics like homelessness, hunger, and discrimination.

Creating an Open Dialogue About Poverty
The first step in introducing Free Lunch as an educational tool is creating an open dialogue about poverty with your students. This should include discussing the definition of poverty—which can be defined as “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods or means of support”—and exploring its causes and effects on individuals and communities. It is important to emphasize that poverty is often systemic and not simply caused by individual choices or lack of effort; there are many factors at play when it comes to socioeconomic status.

Exploring Devon’s Story
Once the groundwork has been laid for understanding the concept of poverty, teachers can then begin exploring Devon’s story through the lens of his experiences in Free Lunch. Through this narrative-driven approach, students can empathize with Devon while also learning more about what it means to live in extreme financial hardship. It is important to note that while Devon’s experience may not be representative of all individuals living in poverty due to its focus on a single family unit living in rural America, it still serves as a valuable resource for educating students on these issues.

Discussing Solutions & Empowering Advocacy
Finally, it is important to discuss solutions for addressing the issue of poverty both locally and nationally. There are many organizations dedicated to helping those experiencing economic hardships such as food banks, homeless shelters, legal aid clinics etc., so encouraging students to get involved with these endeavors is essential for creating lasting social change. Additionally, introducing them to different advocacy groups (e.g., United Way) that provide resources for those living in poverty will help empower them to become agents of positive transformation within their own communities.

Discuss Generosity with Your Students
Before introducing FLRO, start a conversation with your students on the concepts of generosity and kindness. Ask students questions like, “What does it mean to be generous?” or “How can we be kind to others?” This will help lay the groundwork for why FLRO is important and demonstrate the connection between these ideas and real-world actions.

What is FLRO?
FLRO stands for “Free Lunch Rex Ogle” and it is an interactive game designed to teach students about making good decisions. The game was created by a team of researchers at the University of Texas at Austin who wanted to find a way to engage children in the decision-making process without boring them with lectures or hours of worksheets.

Introduce Free Lunch Rex Ogle-FLRO
Explain to your students what FLRO is all about—that FLRO is a way for people in need of lunch to get one without having to ask or explain themselves. Let them know that when someone takes an FLRO token from the jar, they are not only getting lunch but also letting those who are less fortunate have access too. Explain that by using the tokens, everyone can participate in being generous without judgement or shame.

Click HERE to access the Digital Course Above.

How does FLRO work?
Players take on the role of Rex Ogle, a young entrepreneur who has decided to open his own lunch truck business. In order to be successful, he must make wise decisions about pricing, advertising, customer service, etc., all while managing his finances wisely. Players must navigate through different levels of the game while trying not to run out of money before achieving their goals. Along the way, they are presented with different choices that require critical thinking and sound decision-making skills in order to succeed.

How can I use FLRO in my classroom?
FLRO can be used as part of any lesson plan that teaches problem solving and decision-making skills. It also works well as an introduction activity or review session during a unit on economics or finance. Additionally, it can be used as an engaging assessment tool that allows students to demonstrate their understanding of real-world economic principles while having fun playing an interactive game!

Encourage Good Behavior With Rewards-FLRO
When a student uses an FLRO token, reward them with something small such as a sticker or point system so they know their behavior was noticed and appreciated. By doing this, you are reinforcing positive behavior while also encouraging others in class who may not have seen the act of kindness first hand to recognize it as well. When possible, give out rewards publicly so everyone can celebrate the good deed together!

Free Lunch by Rex Ogle provides educators with an invaluable tool for teaching their students about one of society’s most pressing issues: poverty. By creating an open dialogue about what it means to live in extreme financial hardship and exploring Devon’s story through the book itself, teachers can help foster empathy amongst their students while also empowering them to become advocates for social change within their own communities. Ultimately, Free Lunch serves as an excellent resource for educating young people on difficult topics like homelessness, hunger, and discrimination—all essential components needed for creating meaningful dialogue around these issues in our classrooms today.

Free Lunch Rex Ogle full novel study lessons, click HERE on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT)