Discuss these questions with your students before and after watching Oskar & the Last Straw to review key points of the play.

Before Questions

1. The “last straw" is something that makes you feel like you are losing control, have reached your limit, and can't take anymore. What is a time when you felt like you had reached your last straw?

2. Have you ever felt like you were under pressure to “do it all?”

3. How do you keep your to-do list from getting too big? What do you do first? Second? Third?

4. Do you think it is okay to give up when things are difficult?

5. Have your feelings ever gotten the best of you because you couldn’t get everything done?

6. Have you ever had to do something that didn’t sound fun? How did you react?

7. What does it mean to doubt yourself?

8. What does it mean to understand your emotions?

9. What helps you re-charge and find balance when life is challenging?

10. Who helps you find balance when life is challenging?

After Questions

1. How does Oskar try to cope with his backpack? What works? What doesn’t work?

2. How does Oskar react when he is frustrated?

3. What does No More Choices Bear want Oskar to do? What does Coping Cat encourage him to do instead?

4. How does Oskar treat his friends when he is overwhelmed?

5. Who helps Oskar when he’s having trouble?

6. When does Oskar change his attitude?

7. When does the size of Oskar’s backpack change?

8. Have you ever been in a situation like Oskar and felt like you had too much to do? How did you manage to get everything done?