We Dream of a World

Title: We Dream of a World...
Authors: Scholastic; Classroom of students from University City, Missouri

This book is made by a classroom of students and dedicates a page to each social justice issue they wanted to focus on. Each page/topic includes facts and a few ideas of what we can do to help this issue. Some of the issues include hunger, homelessness, education, pollution and peace. This is a great way to not only introduce many topics of social justice to your class, but also to show them that kids can make a difference.

I would use this book to introduce and incorporate social justice themes into my classroom by reading a page/issue biweekly. This would give them a chance to brainstorm ideas of how they could help. They would then be encouraged to write letters, educate their peers, or incorporate other ideas and activities to take social action. This book could be incorporated into thematic units, or integrated into multiple areas such as literacy, math, or science and health. An example would be to look into a nutrition unit and encourage the school to sell healthier snacks in the lunchroom by writing letters to the school board.

This book covers three levels of social justice education. 3 because it shows issues of social injustice; 4 because it suggests ways for social change; and 5 because it encourages the opportunity to make a difference.

Dinner at Aunt Connie's House BY Faith Ringgold

This is a story about a young girl named Melody who goes to her aunt Connie’s house every summer for dinner and a special showing of her aunt’s artwork. Melody meets Aunt Connie’s adopted son Lonnie and they play hide and seek, in the house, before dinner. While playing hide and seek, they find Aunt Connie’s portraits of African American Women who have made great contributions to American History. The portraits talk to Melody and Lonnie; they tell both of them about their lives and how they contributed to American History. This book is great because it gives a brief description of these women and you can see how they look. This good contains a lot of valuable information that used in many different ways in the classroom.

This book can be utilized in the classroom by having students draw their own self portraits and write their own description of themselves. They can write about what contributions they made. This book could also be used as a starting point for research papers. Students could pick one woman they want to learn more about and they can research and make a presentation to the class. The students could even do a skit and act like the women they are researching. They could even act a dinner scene in which they students are portraying the women in this book. The students could also write something that they would want their portrait to say 50 years from now. How do they want to change the world? What do they want to be known for? The first woman to do… The first man to do… Being that the book was inspired by a quilt; the class can make a quilt out of their own portraits.

This book addresses all the stages of Social Justice Education.

A Friend Like Ed by Karen Wagner

Summary: Differences are celebrated and the value of real friends are learned. It is about two offbeat, lovable, unforgettable characters and their true and everlasting friendship.

Activities:

1)Self-portraits & write about culture, interests, talents and what friendship means to you

2) Poetry Lesson

3) Write appreciation cards/letters

4) Civil Rights Movement

5) Racism, sexism, stereotypes

6) Community awareness- bringing differences together

7) Learning how to write detail

Prompts:

1) What does it mean to write from the heart?

2) What are you thankful for?

3) What makes you laugh so hard that you cry?

4) Are you a risk taker?

5) Embarrassing moments..

6) Strange hobbies

7) Talents

8) Times when you feel lonely...

SJE:

Falls under all categories

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

This book tells the story of a little girl named Wanda Petronski. She’s not like her classmates, she has a funny name and wears the same faded-blue dress to school every day. Though she wears the same dress everyday Wanda claims to have one hundred dresses lined up in her closet at home. Her claim among other things makes her a target for the bullying by several other girls in her class Eventually, the bullies come to find out that Wanda did have one hundred dresses and also find out how their teasing game effected Wanda.
I think this book addresses many issues related to social justice such as immigration, poverty, and bullying. I think it does a good job of showing how bullying does not always have to be a physical assault and that words can really hurt. I also like how these issues of social justice are intertwined and that the book addresses the effects these issues have on children.
This website offers some lessons on how to use the book to engage students in a discussion about having courage and standing up for things they know are wrong http://www.bu.edu/sed/caec/files/elemlesson2.htm
I think this book addresses these levels of social justice: Stage 2 because it teaches students that people that are different from them have talents and qualities that they can appreciate. Stage 3 because it explores the issues of poverty, immigration/racism, and bullying. I think that this book could definitely be used to motivate students to work for change especially through such lessons that put them in a characters role and challenge the students to act in a way that may be different from their normal manner.

My Painted House My Friendly Chicken and Me

MY PAINTED HOUSE MY FRIENDLY CHICKEN AND ME
by MAYA ANGELOU


Summary: The book is from the point of view of a 8 year old Ndebele girl from South Africa named Thandi, meaning hope. She describes her life in the village: her best friend who is a chicken, the houses that they paint in the village, and also the beads that her mother wears. She is asking the reader to embrace her life and become her friend. The photographs in the book are real photographs, making the reader feel so close to the village. The books is also interestingly designed because the layout of each page is very different. Not only do the layout of the pictures change but the fonts size and style also changes.

Activities: 1)Students can make a book about their culture and customs in the same form as this book. They can write it as if they were talking to Thandi or someone who has never experienced their lifestyle
2)Students can find similarities between their life and Thandi's life
3) Students can describe their best friends and what characteristics make a good friend

Social Justice Education: This book addresses Respect for Others because it exposes kids to another culture and different It also addresses Self-Love and Acceptance because it teaches kids that being different is okay and one should be proud of it.

Fireboat: The Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maria Kalman

Summary: Fireboat is the real-life story of the John J. Harvey, which was first launched in 1931. After many years of service fighting fires along the Hudson River, the boat was finally retired. In 1995, several New Yorkers bought and restored the old fireboat. This inspiring book tells how, and why, the Harvey was called into service again on September 11, 2001.

Activities:
1)Students write a poem describing the characteristics of a hero
2)Students make appreciation cards for people who have jobs that impact the students' lives
3)Characteristics of Heroes: Write a list of character traits on the board (like bravery, intelligence, etc). Go through the character traits one at a time and discuss whether each particular trait would make a person a hero. Then have the group write down which of those traits they see in their friends and in themselves.
4) Empathy and Peace Building Activities
5) "If I Were a Hero, I Would…" Will they care about their friends, help their parents, be kind to people, say hello to neighbors? This exercise encourages students to think of themselves as heroes and feel good about it.

Social Justice Education: Covers all areas
Through the activities listed above, students will learn about self-love and acceptance, in addition to respecting and loving other people.

This book can also be used to discuss what happened on September 11th, andthe children can generate ideas on how the protect their country. What would they do if they were the President?

I SEE THE RHYTHM BY TOYOMI IGUS

Summary:

"I See The Rhythm" is a very rich book with beautiful illustrations on the history of African American music. It goes into great detail how music has evolved over the past 500 years; from early 1500's to present day. Additionally, NYC's legendary Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theater, and the Cotton Club are given special focus.

Reflection:

This is a Wonderful book that provides the history of African American music alongside with information and dates of what has transpired historically. Igus makes it easy to connect history to each musical era.

Activity in Social Studies:

Students can work with maps of Africa and the U.S. and show how blacks originated in Africa and migrated to the U.S. They can then begin to connect the different musical eras that have evolved:
Slave Songs, Blues, Ragtime, Jazz, Swing, BeBop, Gospel, R&B, Rock-n-Roll, Funk, and Rap/Hip Hop.

Social Justice Education:

Students will learn self-love and acceptance as they learn about their own culture; respect for others as they learn about other cultures; exploring issues of social justice as racism, sexism, and classism are confronted; social movements and social change show how people have struggled for social change; and taking social action- students will understand how music has worked towards a non-violent social change.

Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester

Summary: This book explores the issue of race and racism. What would happen if there was no race? Aren't we all the same? Each individual has their own story, and their race is just one part of their whole person. Filled with beautiful illustrations and uses more developed concepts of race.

Reflection: The book presents several stories of different people, and demonstrates how not everyone is the same, however, we all are still human, and therefore, we are all equal. This book gets across this idea strongly, and is a great source for discussion about race and concepts revolving around human equality. I would gear this book to children 2nd grade and above, for maximum advantage.

Activities:

• Each student creates a portrait of themselves, and explains their story.
• Useful for debates about race and its existence in our society
• Exercise in multiple perspectives and stories of individuals
  
• Students create a play in which each child gives a monologue of their own story
• Make a mural of all students, one with their skin color, and one without, showing that no matter what skin color an individual is, they have the same interests, etc.

**This book reflects all stages of the social justice pillars.

Harlem Stomp: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance
By: Laban Carrick Hill

Summary:
This is a non-fiction resource book. It is a compilation of texts on the Harlem Renaissance. It does not have to be read cover to cover, but can also be enjoyed in segments. It calls readers to think about this time period in American, and NYC history.

How I would use this:
This sheds light upon a very important question. This book asks, why it was necessary for there to be a Harlem Renaissance. Why was it a big deal that people from Harlem were creating wonderful things? This shouldn’t have been surprising, it should have been assumed that people from Harlem, just like all other people, would be creating stunning work. Through these questions a teacher can include this work in a studies ranging from slavery to contemporary race relations in the US. This book can be used for older grades, but can also be adapted and segmented to fit the needs of younger children. Teachers should use caution when utilizing this work, due to the fact that much of the material inside is sensitive and often not censored.

Websites:
http://mercury.educ.kent.edu/database/eureka/detail_book.cfm?BooksID=1414
http://www.twbookmark.com/children/educator_resources.html

Social Justice Education:
I feel as if this book is an example of level four, Social Movements and Social Change. It discusses the Harlem Renaissance and provides students with the ability to access this time period.

*Posted for: Valerie Bracco*

The Village Basket Weaver

Summary:
The Village Basket Weaver by Jonathan London takes place in a quaint Carib village in Belize. This is a touching story about young boy, Tavio, and his aging abuelo (grandfather), Carpio. Tavio spends time watching his grandfather work on weaving a basket used for preparing cassava bread (a bread native to Belize) and starts to realize that his grandfather is not as strong as he once was. At the same time abuelo wonders who will carry on this important Garifuna cultural tradition of basket weaving, since all the young boys in the town are leaving to find jobs in the city. The interesting characters in this story (of African and Carib Indian decent) have done a good job of preserving their cultural but they face increasing pressure from the industrial world to become more modernized.


How I would use this book:
∙ Unit on the importance of preserving culture/ embracing where we come from and who we are.
∙ Unit about breads from different countries
∙ A unit about the Caribbean and/or people from South America

Helpful Links:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSLAOFamilyTraditionsCulture12.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Village-Basket-Weaver-Jonathan-London/dp/0525453148


Domains of Social Justice: 1) Self love and acceptance: Children learn to appreciate their own culture and the importance of preserving it. 2) Respect for Others: Children can learn about a culture that is very different from their own. 4) Social Movements and Social Change: Children see how cultures are being pressured to change due to globalization.

Thank you, Mr. Falker by, Particia Polacco

Summary: One of the most touching children's books I've read in recent memory. This book is very close to my heart since I can relate to the feeling that the character Tricia goes through. This autobiographical story by the great Patricia Polacco tells how "Tricia" overcame her reading problems with the help of a compassionate teacher. In the book, Tricia, who has a yearning to learn to read because of her family's love of learning, discovers that letters in books seem to be all just wiggling shapes. As Tricia moves through school, students call her dumb. She sadly begins to except their teasing and begins to believe she truly is dumb; until, Fifth Grade when she is blessed with an outstanding teacher, Mr. Falker.

Activities:

• I would use this book in the beginning on the school year as a read aloud to teach the students tolerance in the classroom. I want the students to understand that there is no reason for teasing and name calling especially in “our” classroom. After the read alond we would have a class discussion about the book and hurting peoples feelings.


• It also can be used to show that everyone is different and its ok to be different. And as a class we could sit in a circle and tell something that makes us different from the rest and how that makes us all special. This is another activity that would be done in the beginning of the school year. This activity can also help us introduce ourselves in the beginning of the school year.


• You can also have the kids go back to ther seats and write a letter to Tricia letting her know that its okay to be different and that she is not alone. Or they can also write about how they would feel if they were in Tricia's shoes.

Curricular units:

• Tolerance (social studies)


• Class room behaviors


• Literacy


• Self esteem (social issues)

Social Justice Education:

• Self love and acceptance: This book shows the students that its ok to be different and that they sohould love themselves for who they are.

• Respect for others: This book skows how they should have respect for others that are different then them reguardless of the difference and that everone should be treated the same way

• Exploring issues of social justice: This book taught them how it felt to be put down all the time. It shouwed them a form of oppression.

• Social movements and social change: This book really doesn't fit into this area of social justice.

• Taking social action: This may show the students that its not right to tease and put other peole down. If they see that happening to someone one day they will have the strengh to help that person out that is getting teased and teach the peson who is doing the teasing something new.

Something Beautiful

Title: Something Beautiful

Author: Sharon Dennis Wyeth

This book, in my ,is a wonderful book that has the potential to leave students aware of the negative social situations that are evident in the community and how to change those situations as well. In this story there is a little girl that describes the different scenes of vandalism, homelessness, and danger in her neighborhood. The girl learns about the defintion of the word beautiful and that each person should have something beautiful in life. With htis in mind the little girl questions members of their community on what is beautiful to them, and finds that everyone has something they treasure for a different reason. In the end the girl decides that she will clean up her neighborhood as a start of making the world beautiful.

Social Justice: I feel that this book fits stages 4 and 5 of the Social Justice track.

Book Club Blog: Fly Away Home

http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit119/lesson3.html

http://www.un.org/works/goingon/poverty/lessonplan_poverty.html

Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin

Summary: Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin is a book about a young girl who one day asks her father to teach her how to be a glassblower like him. Her father responds by saying, "You are too little, Elenita, and the hot glass might burn you. Besides, who ever heard of a girl glassblower (p. 4)?" Her brother encourages her to follow her dreams and go to Monterrey, Mexico where the great glassblowers are. She takes this suggestion by dressing up like a boy and heads off to Monterrey. Throughout her journey she plays various Mexican songs through her pipe. Her songs help various different animals who are going through their own struggles. By the time she reaches Monterrey, she proves to herself to be a worthy glassblower and impresses all the great male glassblowers. She returns home and proves to her father that young girls like her can blow glass.

Reflection: This is book was a great book for several reasons. First, the illustrations by Ana Juan are beautiful. Second, the book is about gender issues. Elena's character is a great role model and example for young girls. She not only proves her father wrong, but she also displays courage and bravery when she journeys through the wilderness all by herself. In addition, she helps many animals along the way who voice their admiration to her. Finally, the book has many Spanish words and Mexican songs in it. The book provides English translations on the first page.

How would I use the book/Curriculum Units: This book is just a great book to read, because of the illustrations and story. This book could begin a discussion about gender issues, Mexican culture/experiences, stereotypes, Spanish vocabulary, Mexican songs, and glassblowing. I could also use this book to discuss literary elements such as plot, character development, conflict, point of view, etc.

Domains of Social Justice: 1) Self-love and acceptance- Children can learn about Mexican culture as well as female self-empowerment. Elena, a young Mexican girl, is a character who proves her capabilities to both her father and to herself. 2) Respect for Others: Children learn how one girl earned her respect by go against female stereotypes. 3) Exploring Issues of Social Justice: The main point of this book is to address issues of sexism. 4) Social Movements and Social Change: Children learn how Elena stood up for herself and proved to her father and others that she could be a great glassblower. 5) Taking Social Action: Students can begin to think about stereotypes and what they can actively do to change those stereotypes.

The Streets are Free

The Streets are Free

Story byKurusa

Illustrated by Monika Doppert

Translated by Karen Englander

This is the story of the children of the Venezuelan barrio of San Jose. It is the story of their protest to get a place to play.

This book can be used in all elementary grades- the only difference would be the complexity of the conversations that followed the reading.

Suggested topics for discussion: equity (is it fair that the children have no place to play?); urban development (what does it mean, what effects does it have on space and the community etc); politics and "the system" (how do the students use the system, why does the mayor forget about their project after elections are over?);empowerment- even though they are children they are able to organize and fight for their rights and affect change.

This book can be used specifically to teach reading strategies (empathizing, questioning, empathizing) it can be used as a provocative text to encourage writing and it can also be used as part of social studies units on various topics. PS I just discovered that there is a teachers guide for this book as well (although I cannot vouch for it as I have only seen it online)http://www.amazon.com/streets-are-free-Teachers-resource/dp/0789128128/sr=1-2/qid=1170811514/ref=sr_1_2/105-2474854-7605246?ie=UTF8&s=books

Sadako

Sadako, by Eleanor Coer, is about a young Japanese girl diagnosed with leukemia because of the dropping of the atomic bomb. Sadako is told that if she folds 1000 paper cranes, the gods will make her well again. Sadako dies before folding 1000 cranes, but her friends finish folding the rest so that she could be buried with them. After her death, a statue dedicated to peace was created in her honor.

When students read Sadako's story and the ways in which the dropping of the atomic bomb adversely affected her, they will be able to connect to a child from across the world, someone from another place and culture. They will learn to show compassion towards people of all races and cultures. I would use this book to begin discussions about war, specifically World War II. The book teaches students that war affects people long after it has ended. It also teaches them that war harms real people and that many of them are children.

In terms of social justice, this book relates to levels 2 and 4. It teaches them to respect other cultures and explores issues of war.

If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America

If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America by Anne Kamma, describes the intense moments of hardship that slaves faced, and their dedication and determination to be free. This book addresses more than fifty questions about the life conditions of a slave in America. Were all slaves brought over from Africa? What did slaves wear? Did slaves go to school? How would slaves find out the latest news? Could you be made a slave even if you were free? The answers to the questions are honest, straightforward, and simplified for students in the 4th - 5th grade to understand what occurred during the years of slavery.
I was interested in this book because it addressed numerous questions I had as a child, as well as questions my 5th grade students wondered about when they learned about people who fought against slavery, such as Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglass. I would use this book to motivate students to think of questions they have about slavery (small group activity) and discuss where they will find the information. What book, magazine, and website address their questions. This activity will encourage students to critically think, ask questions, and explore resources.
This book could be used effectively to address the five social justice education. Students will learn about traditions, values, and ways they can take social action

Big Al and Shrimpy

Title: Big Al and Shrimpy

Author: Andrew Clements

Summary: This book is the story of Big Al, a big fish, and his friend Shrimpy. The fish are friends despite their differences. When a problem arises and Big Al finds himself in trouble, Shrimpy is able to gather all of the fish together to save his friend.

Reflection: With its beautiful pictures and likeable characters, this book is a great way to bring up the subjects of differences, cooperation, and making a difference to a young class. Students see characters who are friends despite their differences, fish working together, and that even the smallest fish can make changes. The illustrations and simple words clearly depict how characters feel and seem to be an excellent starting point for a discussion on any of mentioned topics.

Ideas:

-The book could be read at the beginning of the year to encourage respect and cooperation in the classroom.
-The book could be read to motivate students to advocate for a change.
-If a class is doing an ocean study, this book could be tied in to motivate students to take action on a real issue occurring in the ocean.
-The book could be used to expand adjective use for students and encourage description by having students describe the characters as many ways as possible.
-Science could be investigated by having students look up different types of fish. Students also might investigate the real problems in the ocean if they are motivated by the story. Levels of

Social Justice Education:

I-Students learn they are part of a community.
II-Students learn to respect differences.
V-Students are motivated tomake a difference.

Links: Amazon

Check out Big Al: BigAl

Freedom on the Menu

Freedom on the Menu by Carole Boston Weatherford is a wonderful book about a family dealing with segregation during a time when things were all about to change. In the story a young girl's family is involved in many different aspects of standing up for themselves and their beliefs. Her brother is even a part of the Greensboro Sit-Ins.

I thought that this book was not only a great read but had a wonderful message behind it. Unlike some other books on civil rights and segregation that I have read, this book adds the element of social action that is encouraging for students and can be turned into a major social aciton project by teachers. There are tons of activities/lessons that can be generated from this book. A wonderful discussion about taking action against racism, prejudice and bullying occured in my classroom after I read this book to my 6th graders.

Additionally, this book addresses the Social Justice stages 3, 4 and 5.

Subway Sparrow by Leyla Torres

Summary:
An English-speaking girl, a Spanish-speaking man, and a Polish speaking woman might not be able to hold a conversation, but they will be able to work together to help a city sparrow escape from the subway car.
Reflection:
I highly recommend this book because students will relate to it since the setting-- a subway-- will be very familiar to city kids. The mixture of different languages adds multicultural value to the book.

Activities:
1. Discussion about how language does not have to be a barrier for different people to work together.

2. Students can write their own story in a different native language or try to write in any other language they know.

3. Read the Spanish version of the book: Gorrion del Metro. Then you can do a compare and contrast activity through Venn Diagrams, etc.

Social Justice Education domains:
This book addresses Respect for Others because it exposes kids to other cultures and different languages.
This book addresses Self-Love and Acceptance because it teaches kids that speaking different languages or being different is okay as they cooperate with each other.

Units: Science Connection
It can be used with writing, literature, and even science. Kids can explore the different birds found in the New York City and learn how these creatures survive in the city. Then kids can engage in various activities about habitats and how they can help city animals like the sparrow survive in a busy city.