As a winter baby, I love snow. As an English educator, I love stories that will haunt students for the rest of their lives. Therefore, I can think of no better combination than “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. Naturalism at its finest, this chilling short story is often regarded as London’s best work. So, whether you’ve taught this classic tale before or get to experience it for the first time, I’ve got a “To Build a Fire” lesson plan that’ll have your students thinking, discussing, and even debating whether dogs truly love their owners. (Spoiler alert—mine told me she does, ha!)

To Build a Fire Short Summary
But before we jump in, here’s a short summary of “To Build a Fire”:
Set in the merciless Yukon Territory, “To Build a Fire” follows an unnamed man trekking through freezing temperatures while underestimating nature’s power and ignoring sage advice. He’s accompanied by his husky as they face the unrelenting cold. Doomed from the start, the man’s overconfidence leads to disaster and even his dog isn’t free of his fight for survival.
Sounds fun, right? Well, maybe the topics aren’t fun, but from a teaching standpoint, this story never disappoints. The shock factor is worth it, but add in a dog and students get all in a tizzy!
So with that, onto the fun ideas that’ll bring this story to life in your classroom!

Hook Students with a “Naturalism Trail” Activity for To Build a Fire
Start your lessons with movement and intrigue by setting up a “Naturalism Trail” to introduce key characteristics of the genre. This activity helps students learn and gets them out of their seats.
How it works:
- Step 1: Print out 8 examples about Naturalism and set them up around your classroom. (This gallery walk includes examples about setting, scientific observation, survival themes, and social commentary).
- Step 2: On the backside of each fact, include the answer and a deeper explanation of the concept. (Pro tip: If you use page protectors, students can slide cards in and out, making it interactive.)
- Step 3: Have pairs of students travel the “trail,” reading and discussing each tidbit.
This “To Build a Fire” activity will help them identify Naturalism’s key tenets while warming them up for Jack London’s world of snow and survival.

Analyze To Build a Fire with Color-Coding
Using the elements of Naturalism as a guide, engage your students in a color-coded close reading activity of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. Provide them with crayons or digital highlighters to color-code the elements of Naturalism within the text. This hands-on approach will help them identify and understand the different components that create a sense of detachment and realism in the story.
How it works:
- Assign each element (e.g., setting, scientific observation, survival themes, and social commentary) a color. For instance:
- Pink for setting
- Blue for scientific observation
- Green for survival themes
- Yellow for social commentary
- As students read, have them mark only the best examples of these elements in their text.
Can’t print the story pages or don’t want to use crayons or highlighters? Sticky notes in various colors work wonders and can lead to a great group activity. Give each student 4 different colored sticky notes and have them color code the elements that way. You could then put them in groups (think four corners) to exchange examples. You can do a mix of discussions with like colors and then multi-color groups.

Pair a Poem with To Build a Fire by Jack London
The number one way to make any text more dynamic is to pair it with something unexpected. For this “To Build a Fire” lesson plan, that pairing is “Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?” by Thomas Hardy. If you’ve never read this poem then you are in for a treat. And by treat I mean a morbid poem that will leave you thinking, “does my dog even love me!?”
This poem will produce a strong reaction no matter what, but to really set up the shock factor, hook them with an adorable video of a Husky saying “I Love You.”
Next, introduce Hardy’s dark yet witty poem, “Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?” This poem explores themes of death, loyalty, and the significance of life. It’s especially interesting to compare the dog in the poem with the dog in “To Build a Fire.” Do dogs love their owners or use their owners? This question sparks a lively conversation about romanticizing the love and loyalty of our pets vs viewing them from the lens of a realism genre.

Show the Animated Short Film of To Build a Fire
Once students have read and analyzed the story, keep the momentum going with visual storytelling. Stream the animated short film of “To Build a Fire” by Nexus Studios. Have students analyze the elements of each with this movie guide. Then, pose the question: “Which version—text or film—resonated with you the most?” This award-winning animation is beautifully produced and short, making it a perfect 10-minute class activity for To Build a Fire!

Close on an Uplifting Note when Teaching To Build a Fire
“To Build a Fire” has its fair share of heavy moments—it’s literally about freezing to death. To uplift students and spark lively discussions, close your lesson with some survival stories that show strength, loyalty, and love. Here are a few ideas:
- The touching story of a dog who stayed by his injured owner’s side for 20 hours until help arrived (This one always warms hearts!).
- The gripping—and slightly morbid—account of people who survived freezing temperatures against all odds. (This article doubles as an additional Naturalism hook for your students obsessed with true survival tales.)
Pair these stories with reflective questions about human resilience and whether Naturalism always applies in real life. (Tip: Use Printfriendly.com to cut the ads and distractions from these articles!)
Teaching “To Build a Fire” by Jack London can be an introspective and fun experience for both you and your students. By incorporating movement, hands-on activities, and multi-genre pairings, you can make this classic short story a hit in your classroom. Your students will gain a deeper understanding of the elements of Naturalism, develop critical thinking skills, and enjoy the “To Build a Fire” activities in the process!
Do you want “To Build a Fire” activities ready to go? Download your engaging lesson plan here: To Build a Fire Activity Pack