This unit is designed to use children's literature as the catalyst with which to explore several different cultures and areas of the United States. It has been patterned as a whole-language, integrated reading, language arts, social studies curriculum to be employed in a self-contained third grade classroom where the reading levels range from third grade to fifth grade within that classroom.
This unit uses multiple copies of eight culturally diverse novels to nurture a love for reading as a lifelong source of enjoyment, information, and overall expansion and challenge to the mind as well as a base from which to look at four cultures, within our own nation, as the skills of the language arts are developed. The curriculum standards governing the content taught in the New Haven Public schools, at the third grade level, drive the goals and objectives of the lessons developed to accompany the readings of these eight primary books.
The reading of the literature includes activities for building background, developing vocabulary strategies and key words, previewing and predicting, setting a purpose, and the actual independent guided reading of each text. This unit includes opportunities for personal responses to the literature through summarizing, writing, and critical thinking. It provides direction for utilizing the stories to teach in context the language arts skills included in the third grade curriculum.
The integration of these authentic pieces of children's literature into a study of several cultures within our nation provides the unit's magnet. It draws the children to a place, creates a bond, and springboards an exploration into the daily lives of others who at a closer look are really very much like them. Various non -fiction children's books and computer research supply the information base for the children to successfully accomplish the social studies objectives of this unit.
Two books,
Later, Gator
by Laurence Yep and
Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
by Lensey Namioka, are utilized to transport third graders into the lives of two Chinese American boys. These children have family traditions, foods and daily activities that are based on their Chinese culture intertwined with feelings, friendships, and sibling rivalries that every eight or nine year old can identify with.
Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
takes place in the city of Seattle. This setting launches an exploration of the state of Washington as an avenue for social studies integration with the language arts.
Two books,
Toughboy & Sister
by Kirkpatrick Hill , and the Newberry Gold- medal winning children's novel
Julie of the Wolves
by Jean Craighead George, launch third graders on a journey north to Alaska where they become involved in the life of the Inuit. Both books provide opportunities to witness the wilderness life through the eyes of children their age. Students gain an understanding of the commonality of growing up. They experience familiar emotions with the characters in these pieces of literature that help bring their own lives into focus. Filled with the culture and tradition of the Inuit people of today's Alaska these two novels provide many possibilities for incorporating social studies and history into the reading, language arts curriculum.
Two books,
Justin and the Best Biscuits In The World
by Mildred Pitt Walter, and Eloise Greenfield's first novel for young people
Sister
, celebrate the rich contribution that African Americans have made to the development of the midwestern part of the United States along with the strong bonding of the extended family which is such a celebrated part of the black culture. This unit, through the reading of
Justin and the Best Biscuits In The World
, explores the development of the midwestern states through the careers of freed slaves who became famous cowboys, Nat Love, Bill Pickett, and Holt Collier. Also within this unit a look at the state of Missouri adds to the development of a sense of our nation as a diverse yet united family.
The last two pieces of children's literature utilized to generate a comprehension of the cultures which strengthen our nation, as we develop an appreciation for their special uniqueness along with a feeling of oneness, are two books in
The American Girls Collection
.
Meet Josefina
and
Josefina Learns a Lesson
by Valerie Tripp are the first two books in an unfolding series which explores the Mexican culture within the history of New Mexico. Each book contains a glossary and a section entitled "A Look Into The Past" which assists the children in gaining a clear understanding of the setting of the historical fiction novel they are reading. Through the growing up of Josefina introductions to Mexican foods, crafts, traditions, and family life are accomplished along with a recognition of feelings, and experiences common to all the children whose lives this study has joined together.
The effective utilization of the language of our nation is an essential element in the comprehensive understanding of the viewpoints of different cultures. This unit centers around developing the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of children while guiding them in an exploration of the diversity of our nation. It is laid out to use literature as the unifying element. It nurtures a feeling of strength and pride in the vastness of the heterogeneity that is our national heritage.
The magnet of the chapter books included in this unit takes the children on a journey through history, geography, and into the lives of families and children. They are transported through the written word to places, experiences, and feelings without leaving the security of classroom or neighborhood until they have strengthen their wings enough to soar on their own.. The skills developed in this comprehensive whole-language, integrated curriculum unit promote the celebration of diversity while it perfects communication skills, both essential to the success of our nation in the twenty-first century.
