The Truck Cat Cultural Research: National Simultaneous Storytime Activity is a thoughtful inquiry task that encourages students to investigate cultural identity through close reading, discussion and guided research. Designed to accompany The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell, this activity challenges students to use both textual and visual clues to form and support a hypothesis about the cultural background of key characters.

While the story touches on themes of immigration, belonging and home, it never explicitly names the cultural heritage of Yacoub and Mari. This activity invites students to step into the role of a literary detective, searching the book for subtle evidence—such as names, food, clothing and illustrations—to draw their own conclusions. It’s a meaningful way to practise inferencing while fostering respect for diversity and the shared experiences of migration.

Using the provided templates, students will first identify clues within the book that hint at cultural identity. They’ll then conduct guided research—independently or in small groups—to investigate these elements further. Finally, they’ll form a hypothesis about where Yacoub and Mari might be from, using specific evidence to justify their thinking. Along the way, students will learn how authors and illustrators communicate meaning without stating everything directly.

This resource is perfect for combining literacy with cultural studies and social-emotional learning. It promotes discussion, critical thinking and empathy while helping students build global awareness and appreciation for different traditions and identities.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and analyse visual and textual clues about cultural identity
• ✅ Conduct guided research to explore unfamiliar cultural elements
• ✅ Form and support a hypothesis using text-based evidence
• ✅ Build empathy and global awareness through literature

What’s Included:

• Research and reflection templates in 12mm and 9mm line widths
• Prompt questions and space for clue gathering, research and hypothesis

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates
• Copy of The Truck Cat for close reading and visual analysis
• Access to safe digital or print research resources
• Pencils or pens

How to Use:

• Read The Truck Cat as a class and discuss themes of home, belonging and cultural identity.
• Model how to identify a subtle clue and investigate it through research.
• Have students work individually or in small groups to complete the activity sheet.
• Guide students in forming and justifying their hypothesis with specific examples.
• Facilitate a class discussion comparing student conclusions and research findings.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during a multicultural or identity-focused literacy unit
• 💡 Pair with visual literacy lessons focused on illustration analysis
• 💡 Invite students to share their own cultural stories or experiences
• 💡 Use in conjunction with the other resources in our The Truck Cat: Book PACKAGE

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge templates to A3 for group brainstorming or display
• 💛 Provide a word bank or glossary for unfamiliar cultural terms
• 💛 Emphasise respectful discussion and celebrate diverse perspectives

The Truck Cat Cultural Research: National Simultaneous Storytime Activity is a powerful way to integrate comprehension, research and cultural inquiry—building critical thinking and empathy through the lens of a beautifully told story.