Introduction to the novel’s setting, main characters, and initial conflicts. Discuss Ender’s relationship with his siblings and their reaction to him not being chosen for Battle School. Introduce the "Battle School Journal Project," where each student takes on the role of a cadet and writes weekly journal entries.

Project: Start the Battle School Journal Project with the first entry,  focusing on having the monitor just taken out and not being chosen for Battle School. 

 Analyze Ender’s journey to Battle School and his experiences upon arrival. How did he react to being chosen? How did his family react? Discuss Graff’s manipulation and the concept of isolation as a tool for leadership development. Discuss the different games introduced in these chapters and their significance to Ender’s training.

Project: Write a journal entry from the perspective of a new cadet experiencing the launch and their first days at Battle School. 

 Explore the challenges Ender faces in the mind game "The Giant’s Drink" and his transfer to Salamander Army. Discuss the themes of strategy, adaptability, and the psychological aspects of warfare. Discuss our own interpretations of the Giant’s Drink game and what it reveals about Ender’s character.

Project: Add a journal entry reflecting on a challenge faced by the cadet in the mind game or their integration into a new army. 

 Discuss Ender’s time in Rat Army and the introduction of his siblings' political maneuvering on Earth. Analyze the concept of leadership styles as seen in Ender’s interaction with Dink and Peter and Valentine’s actions. Students debate which leadership style is more effective: Ender’s, Dink’s, or Bonzo’s.

Project: Write a journal entry that focuses on the cadet's experience with different leadership styles and their thoughts on Peter and Valentine’s influence on Earth.