You are to select one social justice topic for this assignment and 10 children’s literature picture books that represent your topic and create a presentation to highlight ways that you would use these books in an early childhood/elementary education classroom. You will provide a detailed explanation of the following:
The developmentally appropriate age/grade for your lesson
The content area(s) of focus
Desired student outcomes)
Corresponding activities to extend students’ thinking on the social justice topic
Steps to complete the Children’s Literature Project:
1. Choose one of the following overarching social justice topics to focus your project (Refer https://www.learningforiustice.org/topics)
Race & Ethnicity
Religion
Ability & Ableism
Language
Immigration
Gender & Sexual Identity
Bullying & Bias
Rights & Activism
Culture
Socioeconomic status & Class/Unhoused Crisis & Homelessness
Select and read 10 children’s literature picture books that correspond with the social justice topic that you chose in #1 and have them available for your presentation as youtube read aloud links. The following types of books are not appropriate for this assignment: chapter books, concept books, religious or holiday books, Walt Disney books, basal readers or reading textbooks, series such as “Clifford”, “Arthur”, Golden Books or similar series.
In a presentation include the following information for each text selection:
Title, Author, Illustrator
Summary including main characters, setting, plot (rising action, climax, and resolution), theme
Overview of artistic elements utilized by illustrator
How it relates to your overarching social justice topic
Youtube link to read aloud of the book4. Create 3 corresponding activities that you could use to engage students’ thinking on your chosen social justice topic and include these in your presentation. Each activity should align with a different content area (i.e. mathematics, literacy, social-emotional learning, science, etc.). Each activity must include the following:
Student learning outcomes (students will be able to…)
Materials needed
Steps to the activity. Make sure to be detailed enough that a substitute teacher could pick up your activity plan and implement it successfully.
~ An explanation of WHY you would choose this particular activity. When you’re providing this information, answer how this activity corresponded with the developmental level of the students and the social justice topic you’ve chosen. Also provide information regarding your thinking in choosing this particular activity (Why would this activity be particularly helpful to facilitate students’ learning?)
5. Also within your presentation include the following information:
[ Provide a brief explanation of the social justice topic you’ve selected.
Provide an explanation of a grade level and content area that you’ve considered when choosing the social justice topic and books.
Describe what you have learned about approaching social justice topics through the use of picture books.