Author: George Ella Lyon
Illustrator: Christopher Cardinale
Reading Level: 2nd -6th Grades
Publisher: Cinco
Puntos Press
Summary:
The book, Which Side
Are You On? is told by a child’s perspective of the circumstances that later on led the main
character, Florence Reece, to write a song in 1931. This song has been reused
by millions of people fighting for their rights all over the world. Writer,
George Ella Lyon, begins the book by describing Reece’s family and living
conditions. Florence had seven children and her husband Sam was a coal miner in
Kentucky. They were forced to live on a company house built on company land. During
this time period miners were paid low wages. As a result, Sam and his co-workers
went on strike to get
a raise and safer working conditions. The company hired shooters to attack the
miners’ homes. When Sam’s house was attacked Florence ran to the bedroom with
her children to find shelter. The children hid under the bed to not get struck
by one of the bullets. Meanwhile, Florence grabbed a piece of a calendar and
started writing on it. She whispered to her children, “we need a song”: a song
that kept their mind busy. Shortly after the shooters left, Sam got home. He
thought it would’ve been a great idea to use Florence’s song and gather his
co-workers once again to stand for injustice.
Element #3: Exploring
Issues of Social Injustice
The book, Which Side
Are You On? allows students to be
exposed to an issue of social injustice in the 1930s. This book does an amazing
job demonstrating the living conditions many families were living under because
of the inequalities in the work force. Unfortunately, this is still an issue
that’s going on in today’s society and this book could be a great resource to
trigger children’s curiosity. Also, students could use this book as a reference
when learning US history during this time period. Teachers should encourage
students to find ways on how they can link historical events to this family’s
situation. In addition, this book can be a foundation where teachers can start
discussions on some of the issues their communities might be facing or how
issues of injustice can affect a community in today’s society. The lesson of
the book is that if people
stay united they can stand against oppression, aggression, and injustice, and
fight for their rights without violence.
Activities:
As a class we will research an issue that individuals have
been protesting in the past year (jobs/higher
wages/labor conditions, climate change, Gay marriage). We will break down that issue into three parts.
What caused this group of individuals to come together to protest? What are
they asking for? And if the protest stops, what was the outcome? Then, I will
divide the class into four groups. Each group has to research a problem that
occurred in the past 10 years where people went on strike. They have to answer the
same questions as before and do an oral presentation in front of the class. This
activity will allow students to work in groups, learn how to do research, and
become comfortable during oral presentations.
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