Thank You, World

THANK YOU, WORLD

Written by Alice B. McGinty and Illustrated by Wendy Anderson.

For ages 3-7

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SUMMARY: This wonderfully illustrated book, Thank You World, by Alice B. McGinty, shows our world and all the simple wonders it has to offer. Each page says 'Thank You' to the world for various beauties such as the sky, the sun, and the grass. Each page shows 8 different children from 8 different countries looking up at the same sky, feeling the same grass. One page writes, "Thank you, grass, for softening my footsteps. I'm dancing with the breeze." Then each page shows four different pictures of children in different countries enjoying the grass and playing... sharing the same simple beauty of the Earth!

This book is a great read for preschool through 2nd grade. With the older students, they can explore the meaning of the text and it's illustrations. This can open a discussion and show children that we are more similar to each other than we are different… we enjoy the same activities like playing in the grass and flying kites, no matter where we live on Earth. Kids from around the world are just like me and you!

ELEMENT 2: This book highlights element 2 because the illustrations show many different cultures experience the same simple joy the earth and what nature has to offer. This can be a wonderful picture book for preschool teachers. Teachers can point out that these children from different countries like playing the same games we do! With the older grades we can discuss with our students what makes us similar to those who live far away, or to those who are of a different culture than ourselves. We discuss what makes us different! We may be different in many beautiful ways, like in what we eat and in what we wear, but as the book shows we all look up at the same sky, enjoy the same rain, and share more similarities than differences.  

ACTIVITY: This book can be a wonderful conversation starter to a unit observing other cultures and linking them to our own. Preschool students can do an art activity with mixing their own unique colors. Hands can be placed in their unique colors and can be placed on a large banner sheet. Together the class makes a banner cover in their unique handprints. The are all different yet similar to each other because each is a hand that is the same as all the others.  Older students can observe the illustrations and pick one culture they would like research more about. Students can research ways in which children in that particular culture learn, play and spend their time. They can show each other in a class report telling how our culture is similar to other cultures, as well as sharing the differences we may share. 

Giraffes Can't Dance

Book Title: Giraffes Can't Dance

Author: Giles Andreae

Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees

Grade Level: Pre-K - Kindergarten

Social Justice Element: Element 2 - Respect for Others 

Summary:

Gerald is a giraffe living in the jungles of Africa. Unfortunately, he is uncoordinated and so clumsy that he oftentimes has trouble just walking around. Gerald is very excited for the annual Jungle Dance. He watched all the other animals and their wonderful dancing, and wanted to join in. However, when Gerald ventured to join the dance he was teased by the other animals before he started dancing. This was so discouraging for Gerald that he left the dance feeling sad and lonely. While wallowing through the forest, Gerald ran into a cricket who encouraged Gerald that he could dance if he found the right music. The cricket began to play music, and made Gerald aware of the sound of the jungle and before long the giraffe was dancing away. The rest of the animals found Gerald and began to cheer on his dance moves.

Representation of Social Justice Element:

In the case of Gerald and his dance moves, the other animals of the jungle made assumptions about his abilities. Gerald was disrespected and ostracized before he was even given the opportunity to dance and enjoy himself. Not were the animals disrespectful of Gerald by accepting a stereotype that giraffes would not be good dances, but they were also disrespectful in insisting that only good dancers be allowed at the dance. The cricket, however, respected Gerald despite the preconceived notions and encouraged the giraffe to develop confidence and dance. The other animals grew to respect Gerald and realized they were wrong in the way they treated him. By the end of the book the whole jungle learned a lesson about respect for one another and were even asking Gerald to teach them some moves! 

Classroom Activity: 

When introducing this book to the class, the teacher could ask the class how they would feel if they were laughed at, or made to feel like they didn't belong. There could be a discussion about how it feels when people tell you that you are bad at something and kick you out of a group. The class would then read the book together. Following this, the teacher would ask the class what "respect" means to them. Once there is a clear definition of respect for others understood by the class, each student would then be asked to make a chart of which characters in the book were and were not respectful of one another. As a class, the teacher would lead a discussion about the actions of the characters and what they could have done differently to show respect for one another. 

Side Note:

Not only does this book have amazing illustrations and focus around an animal very lovable for kids, but the syntax is also amazing. The rhymes flow very easily and would be especially helpful for kids who are having trouble with pronunciation or phonetic skills. The singsongy nature of the book attracts kids, and the theme of dancing can bring movement and excitement into the classroom.

Alternative Lesson Plan: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/giraffes-cant-dance-lesson-plan

Get this Book!

http://www.amazon.com/Giraffes-Cant-Dance-Giles-Andreae/dp/0545392551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412102639&sr=8-1&keywords=giraffes+can%27t+dance

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/giraffes-cant-dance-with-book-giles-andreae/1100751816?ean=9780439287197

Everyone Matters: A First Look at Respect for Others

 

Author: Pat Thomas

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Helpful Resources 

Summary:

Everyone Matters is a book that teaches children about respect. The illustrations alone depict children and adults with all kinds of differences; hair color/type, skin color, ability, height, weight, etc. In all pages, kind gestures are being shared between the characters in everyday locations; school, park, home, and streets.  Everyone Matters explains that despite any physical differences, what really matters is what we have in our hearts. It continues by pointing out that there is some respect that must be earned. From keeping promises to loyalty and honesty, Pat Thomas teaches children that respect is a reciprocal concept between members of our society. Respect cannot be forced. To get respect, one must earn it. 

Element Two (Respect for Others):

In Element Two, teachers foster a climate of respect for diversity. What better way to introduce the concept of respect than to read Everyone Matters: A First Look at Respect for Others? Through the illustrations, children see that there are many different kinds of people in this world that do not necessarily look like them,but we should be kind to them. Even if their hometowns do not have too many cultures and races, Everyone Matters, is a perfect tool to emphasize the importance of respect for others, as well as respect for oneself on an everyday basis.

Classroom Use:

This book and the concept of respect can be used in the classroom in various ways. For starters, teachers can introduce the concept by sharing the book with the class. He/she can focus on students' recognition of the pictures in the book. In every page, the teachers can have her students point out the different kinds of people in the pictures. They can continue by explaining what each person is doing in the scenes. After the book is thoroughly read, teachers can ask their students to draw pictures like the ones in the book. Each picture should show people of different characteristics doing kind and respectful gestures for each others. Lastly, they can take activity sheets home to work with their parents so they are aware that respect is not just something for school; it takes place in any location, at any time, with anybody. 

Rabbi Benjamin’s Buttons

Rabbi Benjamin’s Buttons

By: Alice B. McGinty

Illustrated by: Jennifer Black Reinhart

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You can find more information on this book Here

Summary: 

Rabbi Benjamin is the town’s favorite rabbi! They love him so much, that they give him a holiday vest that has four silver buttons at the beginning of the Jewish New Year.  Throughout the year, he celebrates all of the Jewish holidays with all of the families and eats so much of their delicious traditional food that the silver buttons on his vest pop off one by one. His congregation adores him so much that when they see he is sad about his broken vest, they make him a new vest for the next year’s celebrations. 

Element Two- Respect for Others:

This book is an excellent element 2 book because of the many details it includes about the Jewish culture. This book talks about each Jewish holiday and shows examples of the traditional foods they eat and traditions they have. It also has a glossary at the end with many traditional Jewish vocabulary, and has a few recipes for traditional foods. Jewish children will be able to identify with the holidays and foods that the story talks about while many other children will still be able to identify with the close family dinners. 

Classroom Activity:

One great idea for a classroom lesson would be to make one of traditional Jewish recipes that are in the back of the book. It would be a great way to incorporate math into the lesson, by letting the students practice measurement types and how to read recipes. Although some classes may not be able to do this because of the lack of availability to a oven, it may be ok to cook them ahead of time for the children to eat, but let them measure all of the ingredients they would need if they were making it. The children can make the exact recipes they read about in the book such as “Mrs. Muchnik’s Delicious Honey Cake” or even “The Three Golswasser Girls’ Crispy Potato Latkes”.

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems

Written and Illustrated by: Kam Mak

Reading level:  Ages 5-9

Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (December 4, 2001)

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Resources 




Summary:
The book, My Chinatown is about a young Chinese boy from Hong Kong that is trying to adapt to his new life style in Chinatown, New York City. Kam Mak divided the book by the four seasons, starting in winter, which is the Chinese New Year and sharing a full year of the boy’s experiences. Throughout the book the reader has the opportunity to admire vivid colors paintings and reading short poems describing the boy’s surrounding.  The author uses figurative language to make the reader feel like they are sharing the same journey as the boy. Towards the end, the young boy starts to conform to his new life style and appreciates what Chinatown has to offer. 
 

Element #2: Respect for Others:

The book My Chinatown provides students with the opportunity to get a glimpse of the Chinese culture. The book mentions some of the families’ traditions to celebrate New Year in China. The young boy in the book talks about Chinatown as a city he could connect back to his native country. On the other hand, this book allows students to understand some of the struggles many of their peers might have encountered while adapting to a new country, city, home, or even school. My Chinatown concentrates in this young boy's journey, which is an universal experience. The book teaches children, especially if they haven’t experienced it first hand, that sometimes it’s hard for individuals to transition from one place to another. By teachers encouraging discussions around these topics, it will create an environment of respect for diversity as students’ listen with sympathy to their classmates’ experiences.

Follow-Up Activities:

After the read-aloud, as a class we will create a chart of important holidays and/or festivities that are celebrated in everyone's culture. This will allow students to share their cultural background and find things they might have in common with their peers. Then we will discuss what are some nearby towns thats we can visit to get a glimpse of different cultures (Washington Heights, Chinatown, Newark, Passaic, etc.). In addition, as a class we will do some research to find out if any of these towns celebrate any specific holiday or festival. Lastly, everyone will draw a picture of something they felt attached to in one point of their life. It could be their previous year classroom, home, country, or an item. In the bottom of the paper they have to write what made them feel so attached to it.