Let's Talk About Race

With so much going on in our world right now, it can be difficult to find the best way to explain these events to our children. I will be the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn. I have been sitting back and watching, reading, listening, and reflecting on all recent and not-so-recent events. I've been in full "education mode" here. 

In the only way I know how, I wanted to create some content that parents can use with their children at home. Feel free to download and use any or all parts of this freebie pack. You will need some craft supplies, a computer with internet access, and an invitation for open dialogue with your family. 

I was inspired by a read aloud shared by The Tutu Teacher on YouTube. You can find (and will need) her video which can be found HERE or below. 

I came up with a few activities for young children that could be done with the help of an adult. I also included helpful links and additional resources for kids and parents to navigate this sensitive topic. 

Activity #1 is a must if you choose to do activities #2 or #3.  The Tutu Teacher does a great job of explaining racism and race to young children. She challenges kids to "take off their skin" and get to know someone without judging them based on the color of their skin. 

Activity #2 - Have children decorate their "person" to represent themselves. Attach the skeleton page to the back of their artwork by using tape or staples. Reiterate that without our skin, we would look exactly the same on the inside. Take the papers over to a window and hold up to the light to reveal the skeleton underneath their self-portraits. This is a good time to also talk about how what is inside is the most important when learning about someone's story because the color of their skin and their appearance is only one small part of that. 

Activity #3 - In the read aloud, the story talks about how everyone has a story...elements of their lives that make them who they are. This activity challenges your child to really think about the things that make up their story. I included some questions that may help get the ball rolling, but encourage them to really dig deeply and think about who they are as a person. I also took this opportunity to discuss how their are parts of our stories that make us unique, but also that can connect us with others. The color of our skin doesn't mean that we can't relate or have things in common with others that look different than us. 

Activity #4 - I included some questions and statements to help get the conversations started with your family. There are plenty others online if you choose to look for more. 

Ready to get started???????

Just visit my store and download everything you need. Ready to print and use. 

I just started with my little guy and here is a sample of activity #3 (My Story). 

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

CLICK THE PURPLE LINK BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET IT HERE

Love, 

Mary

Because of Winn-Dixie Literary Celebration

I choose different chapter books to read to my classes during the school year. Some I have kept in the rotation. Some I have quickly removed once seeing the glazed over looks in my students eyes. Each and every year though, Because of Winn Dixie always ends up being one of my students' favorites! They clap with excitement when they see me reach for the book and they groan with frustration when I stop after two chapters. Many of my students flock to our school library to check out this book in order to follow along with me in class as I read it aloud. So...as the old saying goes..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it." 

Because of the trending popularity of this story in my class, I decided to surprise my students with a party to resemble the one had in the book. I replicated all of the foods and beverages served in the chapter including Dump punch, Otis' pickles, Littmus lozenges, and Opal's egg salad sandwiches. I also mixed in a few others to include peanut butter sandwiches (since Winn Dixie loved PB so much) and animal crackers to represent Gertrude's Pet Store. 

We snacked on our food, drank our Gloria Dump punch, and watched the movie version of the book. As we watched, I had students compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the book and the movie. They also worked in centers to complete a pamphlet that I had created based on certain chapters and characters in the book. 

We even decorated our classroom with the tree from Gloria's backyard and turned our classroom library into the Herman W. Block Memorial Library. Each student identified a mistake they have made in the past that they regretted or felt bad about and wrote about it on the bottle outline that I made for them. We hung them all from the tree and talked about why we thought Gloria chose to do that in the story. 

Needless to say, my students were 100% engaged on this day and still continue to get this book from the library to read it over again at home or during independent reading time in class. There is no better sight to a teacher than students truly loving to read! :D