Hey guys and dolls, how's it going?
February came quickly, and out of nowhere!
I feel like we barely got back to school, and poof!
There went January!
February is one of my favorite months, not only because
of Valentine's Day, but also because of Black History Month!
I love to introduce topics by utilizing read alouds, and I want
to discuss some of them with you today!
I like to begin with books that talk about how even though our skin
and hair might be different from others, we're still the same!
Before we read books that focus on people
like Harriet Tubman, Coretta Scott King, etc.,
I like to read books that features the perspective of children.
I've found that they relate to it more easily!
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few coins my way to keep this blog running, at no extra cost to you!
The Crayon Box that Talked is a great book that begins with a box
of crayons who do not like each other.
By the end of the story, they realize that their diversity
is what makes that so great!
From there, we move on to our next book,
which just happens to be one of my faves!
We extend our learning from the crayon box book,
and we read The Skin You Live In.
This book talks about how all shades of skin are wonderful,
from cinnamon spice skin, all the way to lemon tart bold skin.
I love how it then keeps going, about it's not dumb skin,
or smart skin, or I'm lesser than you skin.
It's so important that our kiddos hear this message!
The Colors of Us follows Lena as decides to paint herself
and people in her neighborhood. She thinks that all she has to do is
to pick the color brown, because brown is brown.
As they take a walk, Lena's mother shows her that there
are many different shades of the color,
and that they are all perfect!
I Love My Hair is all about self-acceptance.
I think that I love this book because it reminds me
of myself as a child! I HATED to have my hair done.
I kind of tolerated my mom doing my hair,
but my grandmother was RUTHLESS!!!
She didn't care if it hurt, she just got it done!
Though it does bring back fond memories!
After we talk about how we all look different on the outside,
and the shades of our skin are wonderful, we start to get
more into The Underground Railroad.
I love to introduce this movement by reading
Henry's Freedom Box.
They can't believe people used to own other people,
like a piece of clothing or toy.
They're also very interested in the fact that Henry
mails himself to freedom!
This book begins with Henry as a child, and then
follows him through adulthood.
Goin' Someplace Special tells the story of 'Tricia Ann,
a little girl growing up in the South during the 1950's,
a time when segregation was legal and enforced.
She begs her grandmother to go on a trip to Someplace Special,
all by herself. With some reluctance, her grandmother agrees.
While traveling, 'Tricia Ann is always reminded of where she can't
go, where she can't sit, and more.
Then she is remembers what her grandmother told her,
to always walk with her head held high, because she is somebody!
And then she finally arrives at Someplace Special,
the library! I love this story, because the library
was always my favorite place to go as a child, and it still is.
I'm not even sure when I ran across this book,
but once I read it, I knew that A Taste of Colored Water
had to have a place in my classroom library.
This books is slightly different, as it is from the perspective
of white children. It's all Abbey Finch's fault! Lulu and Jelly
just have to visit town, because they want to see the colored fountain!
They're imagining all the flavors, cherry, lemon,
orange, apple-you name it!
Once they arrive in town, they happen upon a protest, marching singers,
police and their dogs, and firemen.
You can find all of these books and more
by clicking on each of the pictures,
which will take you to Amazon.
Alright, so those are some of my favorite read-clouds
to begin my black history unit.
For even more books please visit my
Amazon page and click on black history and diversity.
Keep reading on for more information on how I teach black history.
So, in my classroom, we begin learning about black history
by starting this KWL chart.
It's totally ok if it's not completely full.
I've discovered that in Kindergarten their knowledge can
be somewhat limited.
That makes the learning that much more fun!
We talk about some important vocabulary,
with primary friendly visuals.
It really helps them to understand the definition.
We discuss what is black history,
and people who fought for equality in their
respective fields and areas.
We talk about specific events that moved
The Civil Rights Movement forward.
Each person and even has a page in color,
and a black and white version as well.
We put all of our learning in our black history research book
and vocabulary book.
For more information on this black history pack,
you may click here or on any of the pictures above.
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