Miscellaneous
Character Education
This Teaching Tolerance link describes the Morning Meeting sequence and how it can be used for day-by-day community building in the classroom.
http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/building-community-day-day
Accept and Value Each Person by Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed.
This book teachers children that everyone is different and we have to accept and value one another. Meiners writes about friendship, kindness, families, patience, and problem solving. She accompanies the text with discussion questions, games, and activities.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This text could be used for character education lessons, building classroom community, and teaching students about each other's differences.
This book teachers children that everyone is different and we have to accept and value one another. Meiners writes about friendship, kindness, families, patience, and problem solving. She accompanies the text with discussion questions, games, and activities.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This text could be used for character education lessons, building classroom community, and teaching students about each other's differences.
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
A new girl named Maya comes to school and Chloe and classmates don't want to play with her because her clothes are old and worn and she is different than them. Maya keeps trying to play with the other kids and they always say no, so she has to play alone. The teacher does a lesson about kindness and how small acts of kindness can change the world. Maya's family ends up moving, and Chloe realizes the lost opportunity for sharing her kindness with Maya.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Poverty, Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for lessons about kindness and problem/solution. Students could also write new endings for the story that could change it to a more positive outcome.
Description of the story from Jacqueline Woodson
Lessons and Activities:
"Random Acts of Kindness"
This website has an abundance of activities for teaching about kindness and character education. I particularly like the section about character education topics. These provide resources and tools for teaching about these topics.
A new girl named Maya comes to school and Chloe and classmates don't want to play with her because her clothes are old and worn and she is different than them. Maya keeps trying to play with the other kids and they always say no, so she has to play alone. The teacher does a lesson about kindness and how small acts of kindness can change the world. Maya's family ends up moving, and Chloe realizes the lost opportunity for sharing her kindness with Maya.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Poverty, Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for lessons about kindness and problem/solution. Students could also write new endings for the story that could change it to a more positive outcome.
Description of the story from Jacqueline Woodson
Lessons and Activities:
"Random Acts of Kindness"
This website has an abundance of activities for teaching about kindness and character education. I particularly like the section about character education topics. These provide resources and tools for teaching about these topics.
Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams
Desmond is very proud to take his new bike for a ride until a group of boys shout a very mean word at him (which one could assume is the "N" word). The next day Desond rides past them again and wants to get even so he thought of the meanest word he could think of and shouted it at them. Desmond meets with Father Trevor and talks about how he can't get the word out of his head. Desmond witnesses the boys abusing one of their brothers and realizes they must witness their father doing mean things as well after a comment the mother makes. Desmond sees the boy who was being abused and apologizes to him and forgives him for the mean words. This is a true story from apartheid in South Africa.
Age Group:
Grades 2-5
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
South African
Lesson Plan:
"Desmond and the Very Mean Word"
This lesson has discussion questions and teaches students about forgiveness. Students learn how to say "I Messages" to share their feelings. This lesson pairs with the text We Are All Alike...We Are All Different.
Desmond is very proud to take his new bike for a ride until a group of boys shout a very mean word at him (which one could assume is the "N" word). The next day Desond rides past them again and wants to get even so he thought of the meanest word he could think of and shouted it at them. Desmond meets with Father Trevor and talks about how he can't get the word out of his head. Desmond witnesses the boys abusing one of their brothers and realizes they must witness their father doing mean things as well after a comment the mother makes. Desmond sees the boy who was being abused and apologizes to him and forgives him for the mean words. This is a true story from apartheid in South Africa.
Age Group:
Grades 2-5
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
South African
Lesson Plan:
"Desmond and the Very Mean Word"
This lesson has discussion questions and teaches students about forgiveness. Students learn how to say "I Messages" to share their feelings. This lesson pairs with the text We Are All Alike...We Are All Different.
Friendship
These Teaching Tolerance lessons center around friendship and conflict resolution.
"If You're Angry and You Know It"
"Friendship Pizza"
"Six Secrets of Friendship"
"If You're Angry and You Know It"
"Friendship Pizza"
"Six Secrets of Friendship"
Paul and Sebastian by Rene Escudie
Paul lives in a mobile home and Sebastian lives in an apartment. Both of their mothers refuse to let them play together because of where they live. The boys try to avoid each other but end up becoming friends when they have to take shelter in a cabin during a thunderstorm. Their mothers find them together in the cabin and they let the boys be friends. This is a translation of a French story.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Poverty, Diversity
Use:
This story could be used for discussing prejudice with young children. The boys really aren't that different, but their mothers wouldn't let them be friends because of where they lived.
Paul lives in a mobile home and Sebastian lives in an apartment. Both of their mothers refuse to let them play together because of where they live. The boys try to avoid each other but end up becoming friends when they have to take shelter in a cabin during a thunderstorm. Their mothers find them together in the cabin and they let the boys be friends. This is a translation of a French story.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Poverty, Diversity
Use:
This story could be used for discussing prejudice with young children. The boys really aren't that different, but their mothers wouldn't let them be friends because of where they lived.
Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka
This story has very few words, but depicts how two boys from different backgrounds become friends. This story shows how when one person reaches out to another, a friendship can form.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Black and white relationships
Lesson ideas:
"Yo! Yes?"
This lesson has students discuss friendship and the boys' verbal and nonverbal communication. They discuss how the boys look similar and different and imagine activities they two of them might do together.
Video:
"Yo! Yes?"
This video brings life to the story, but requires a login.
Here is a Youtube video of the same one above, but the quality is not as good.
This story has very few words, but depicts how two boys from different backgrounds become friends. This story shows how when one person reaches out to another, a friendship can form.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Black and white relationships
Lesson ideas:
"Yo! Yes?"
This lesson has students discuss friendship and the boys' verbal and nonverbal communication. They discuss how the boys look similar and different and imagine activities they two of them might do together.
Video:
"Yo! Yes?"
This video brings life to the story, but requires a login.
Here is a Youtube video of the same one above, but the quality is not as good.
Names/Identity
Teaching Tolerance article about appreciating students' names:
"Respect the "Little Q" in Your Class
"Respect the "Little Q" in Your Class
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibenstein
Wabi Sabi is a cat who lives in Japan who sets out to find the true meaning of her name. She travels across Japan to other animals to see if they know what her name means and they all tell her "That's hard to explain." The text uses Haiku and beautiful collage-like illustrations to tell the story. She learns from a monkey that Wabi Sabi is the view that "simple things are beautiful."
Age Group:
Grades K-3
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Japanese
Use:
This could be used when teaching students about the meanings of their names and paired with The Name Jar.
Wabi Sabi is a cat who lives in Japan who sets out to find the true meaning of her name. She travels across Japan to other animals to see if they know what her name means and they all tell her "That's hard to explain." The text uses Haiku and beautiful collage-like illustrations to tell the story. She learns from a monkey that Wabi Sabi is the view that "simple things are beautiful."
Age Group:
Grades K-3
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Japanese
Use:
This could be used when teaching students about the meanings of their names and paired with The Name Jar.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Unhei is a new student who is scared to tell the students in her American class her Korean name. She says she hasn't picked a name yet, so they start a name jar where the students all write their ideas on slips of paper and put them in a jar for her. She takes a name stamp her grandmother gave her to school and shows it to the other kids. One day the name jar tuns up missing so she tells the students her real name. She finds out that a classmate named Joey stole the jar because he wanted her to keep her name. Joey also shared that he had picked a Korean name and got his own name stamp also.
Age Group:
Grades 1-3
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Korean
Use:
"The Name Jar"
This Teaching Tolerance lesson uses this story to teach empathy and self-esteem.
Unhei is a new student who is scared to tell the students in her American class her Korean name. She says she hasn't picked a name yet, so they start a name jar where the students all write their ideas on slips of paper and put them in a jar for her. She takes a name stamp her grandmother gave her to school and shows it to the other kids. One day the name jar tuns up missing so she tells the students her real name. She finds out that a classmate named Joey stole the jar because he wanted her to keep her name. Joey also shared that he had picked a Korean name and got his own name stamp also.
Age Group:
Grades 1-3
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Korean
Use:
"The Name Jar"
This Teaching Tolerance lesson uses this story to teach empathy and self-esteem.
Nursery Rhymes
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora
In this book, Isadora illustrates the nursery rhyme "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" in an African setting. Instead of using farm animals we are used to learning about, she uses a different mix of animals and animal sounds on an African plain (baboon, elephant, zebra, cheetah, lassie, warthog, hippo, giraffe, and more).
Age Group:
Grades PreK-K
Genre:
Nursery Rhyme
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African
Use:
Old MacDonald Had a Farm sing along song
This book could be used with the video link above or another read aloud of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" to discuss setting or compare and contrast.
In this book, Isadora illustrates the nursery rhyme "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" in an African setting. Instead of using farm animals we are used to learning about, she uses a different mix of animals and animal sounds on an African plain (baboon, elephant, zebra, cheetah, lassie, warthog, hippo, giraffe, and more).
Age Group:
Grades PreK-K
Genre:
Nursery Rhyme
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African
Use:
Old MacDonald Had a Farm sing along song
This book could be used with the video link above or another read aloud of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" to discuss setting or compare and contrast.
Conflict/War
The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss writes about a conflict between the Yooks and Zooks. They live on opposite sides of a wall and resent each other for eating butter on the wrong side of their bread. They begin battling each other with sling shots across the wall which eventually evolve into more complex contraptions. A grandchild Yook gazes on as his grandfather engages in battles with the Zooks.
Age Group:
Grades K-5
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used to teach students about the meaning of war. For older students, this could be an introduction to learning about the Iraq war and other wars in our history. This could also relate to the riots happening in our streets now.
Animated Video:
"The Butter Battle Book"
23:37
Dr. Seuss writes about a conflict between the Yooks and Zooks. They live on opposite sides of a wall and resent each other for eating butter on the wrong side of their bread. They begin battling each other with sling shots across the wall which eventually evolve into more complex contraptions. A grandchild Yook gazes on as his grandfather engages in battles with the Zooks.
Age Group:
Grades K-5
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used to teach students about the meaning of war. For older students, this could be an introduction to learning about the Iraq war and other wars in our history. This could also relate to the riots happening in our streets now.
Animated Video:
"The Butter Battle Book"
23:37
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter
This book is about Alia Muhammad Baker, a librarian from Iraq. Everything is being destroyed because of the war, and Alia is worried the library and books will be destroyed as well. She takes all of the books out of the library before the soldiers take over. The people help her save the books when the community is under attack. The library was burnt to the ground, but Alia kept the books safe in her home. Alia dreams of peace and a new library, but keeps the books safe in the meantime.
Age Group:
Grades 2-5
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Iraqi
Use:
This book can be used to teach students about the war and how people must come together to overcome war and hardship. This story could offer in-depth perspective into strength and courage.
Video:
The Librarian of Basra read aloud
4:45
This book is about Alia Muhammad Baker, a librarian from Iraq. Everything is being destroyed because of the war, and Alia is worried the library and books will be destroyed as well. She takes all of the books out of the library before the soldiers take over. The people help her save the books when the community is under attack. The library was burnt to the ground, but Alia kept the books safe in her home. Alia dreams of peace and a new library, but keeps the books safe in the meantime.
Age Group:
Grades 2-5
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Iraqi
Use:
This book can be used to teach students about the war and how people must come together to overcome war and hardship. This story could offer in-depth perspective into strength and courage.
Video:
The Librarian of Basra read aloud
4:45
Gender Stereotypes
5 Lessons- "Gender Expression"
Teaching Tolerance has five lessons for K-5 on gender expression.
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
Oliver button doesn’t like to do stereotypical boy things…he likes to dance most of all. He gets teased by his parents and other boys and gets help from girls. He did a performance and was called a star in a surprise ending.
Age Group:
Grades K-1
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Gender Stereotypes-Boys
Use:
This book can be used for teaching story elements. This is also a great text for teaching students about bullying and put-downs. It could also be used for building classroom community at the beginning of the school year.
Oliver button doesn’t like to do stereotypical boy things…he likes to dance most of all. He gets teased by his parents and other boys and gets help from girls. He did a performance and was called a star in a surprise ending.
Age Group:
Grades K-1
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Gender Stereotypes-Boys
Use:
This book can be used for teaching story elements. This is also a great text for teaching students about bullying and put-downs. It could also be used for building classroom community at the beginning of the school year.
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Grace marches to the beat of her own drum. When she wants to be Peter Pan in the school play, a boy named Raj tells her she can't because it's a boy part. When she tries out for the play, she gets the part and does an amazing job. She realizes she can do anything she wants if she puts her mind to it.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Gender Stereotypes-Girls, African American, Trinidad
Use:
This story can be used for character analysis and story elements.
Lesson Plans:
"Amazing Grace"
This Scholastic lesson has before, during, after discussion topics and suggests students watch Peter Pan starring Mary Martin.
Video:
Read Aloud
Grace marches to the beat of her own drum. When she wants to be Peter Pan in the school play, a boy named Raj tells her she can't because it's a boy part. When she tries out for the play, she gets the part and does an amazing job. She realizes she can do anything she wants if she puts her mind to it.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Gender Stereotypes-Girls, African American, Trinidad
Use:
This story can be used for character analysis and story elements.
Lesson Plans:
"Amazing Grace"
This Scholastic lesson has before, during, after discussion topics and suggests students watch Peter Pan starring Mary Martin.
Video:
Read Aloud
Willow by Denise Brennan Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan
This is a story about a young girl named Willow who loves art, but she doesn't make her art look the way her teacher wants. Willow's act of kindness makes the very strict and neat teacher come out of her shell. After winter break, the students return to school to find Mrs. Hawthorne has decorated the entire classroom with new artwork and wants the children to join her.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural, Diversity
Use:
This book can be used for celebrating diversity in the classroom and teaching sequencing and story structure (see link from Bound to Stay Books for resources). There is another story about Willow called Willow and the Snow Day Dance that could be used for the character across texts standard.
This is a story about a young girl named Willow who loves art, but she doesn't make her art look the way her teacher wants. Willow's act of kindness makes the very strict and neat teacher come out of her shell. After winter break, the students return to school to find Mrs. Hawthorne has decorated the entire classroom with new artwork and wants the children to join her.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural, Diversity
Use:
This book can be used for celebrating diversity in the classroom and teaching sequencing and story structure (see link from Bound to Stay Books for resources). There is another story about Willow called Willow and the Snow Day Dance that could be used for the character across texts standard.