Our themed literature unit centers on the theme, accepting differences in others. Students will learn:
that other people have perspectives different from their own
that everyone does not have to be the same and that people have both strengths and weaknesses.
that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Families can support their child's learning by discussing their own family's strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing the uniqueness of each family. Students will bring their books home after they have finished reading them. Ask your student about what they learned relating to our theme from their book. After reading and discussing a book with your child, sign the envelope and return it to school. To enrich your child's learning, you may want to pick a book that addresses our theme and read and discuss it with your child. Then send your child with a summary of what you discussed.
An "All About Me" worksheet will be sent home with your child. Please take time to discuss the items and help your child fill it in. These worksheets will be displayed on a bulletin board in the classroom to help us get to know each unique child in our class.
The following web-sites have additional resources regarding our theme:
Annotated Theme Book List Old Henry Old Henry moves into a run-down house. The neighbors get angry when he does not fix-up the house. Old Henry finally moves away to escape his angry neighbors. The neighbors realize they miss him and that everyone does not have to be exactly the same.
Blos, J.W. (1987). Old Henry. New York, NY: Mulberry Books. Sunshine Home
At first, visiting his Gram at a nursing home after she broke her hip was scary. After realizing his Gram is still herself even though she is in a different environment, he helps his mom and Gram share their pain of being separated and their love for each other. This book shows that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Bunting, E. (1994). Sunshine home. New York, NY: Clarion Books. Harry and Willy and Carrothead
Harry is born without a hand, but with his prosthesis, he can do everything the other children do. Harry even stands up for his friend when another boy teases him. This book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Caseley, J. (1991). Harry and Willy and Carrothead. New York, NY: Scholastic. The Hundred Dresses
Maddie learns the hard way that making fun of someone because they are different is not okay. This book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Estes, E. (1944). The hundred dresses. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Three Cheers for Tacky
In this book, a group of penguins discover that in some situations, what you thought was a weakness can be a strength and that everyone does not have to be the same.
Lester, H. (1997). Three cheers for Tacky. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
Yang is a tone deaf son of musician parents who plays the violin. Yang's first American friend, Matthew, also plays the violin. Matthew's parents think playing the violin is for sissies, while Yang's parents think that Yang should spend all his time practicing the violin. Both families learn how strengths can be seen as weaknesses and weaknesses can be seen as strengths depending on your perspective. This book teaches that people have different perspectives from each other.
Namioka, L. (1997). Yang the youngest and his terrible ear. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. I have a Sister - My Sister is Deaf
A young girl describes her experiences having a deaf sister. She compares and contrasts how they experience life. Her sister does things differently because she cannot hear. She comes to the realization during a storm that her sister is lucky not to be woken up and afraid. This book teaches that not everyone is the same and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
Peterson, J.W. (1977). I have a sister-my sister is deaf. New York, NY: Harper Collins. Thank You, Mr. Falker
Trisha yearns to learn how to read, but letters get jumbled when she looks at them. Finally, her fifth grade teacher realizes she cannot read and teaches her. This book teaches that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
Polacco, P. (1998). Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York, NY: Philomel Books. Angel Child, Dragon Child
Hoa misses her mother when she moves to America. The American children make fun of her different Vietnamese ways. Tensions build and finally erupt, resulting in Raymond listening to Hoa's story about coming to America. Raymond's perspective of Hoa changes when he finds out that her mother is still in Vietnam. Raymond comes up with the idea to raise money for bringing Hoa's mother to America. This book teaches that people have different perspectives.
Surat, M.M. (1983). Angel child, dragon child. New York, NY: Scholastic. Hank Zipzer: The Zippity Zinger
Hank struggles in school because of dyslexia, but one day he amazes everyone with his baseball pitching. Hank learns that he has his own strengths and weaknesses.
Winkler, H., & Oliver, L. (2004). Hank Zipzer: Vol. 4. The zippity zinger. New York, NY: Grosset and Dunlap.
Accepting Differences in Others
Our themed literature unit centers on the theme, accepting differences in others. Students will learn:
- that other people have perspectives different from their own
- that everyone does not have to be the same and that people have both strengths and weaknesses.
- that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Families can support their child's learning by discussing their own family's strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing the uniqueness of each family. Students will bring their books home after they have finished reading them. Ask your student about what they learned relating to our theme from their book. After reading and discussing a book with your child, sign the envelope and return it to school. To enrich your child's learning, you may want to pick a book that addresses our theme and read and discuss it with your child. Then send your child with a summary of what you discussed.An "All About Me" worksheet will be sent home with your child. Please take time to discuss the items and help your child fill it in. These worksheets will be displayed on a bulletin board in the classroom to help us get to know each unique child in our class.
The following web-sites have additional resources regarding our theme:
Annotated Theme Book List
Old Henry
Old Henry moves into a run-down house. The neighbors get angry when he does not fix-up the house. Old Henry finally moves away to escape his angry neighbors. The neighbors realize they miss him and that everyone does not have to be exactly the same.
Blos, J.W. (1987). Old Henry. New York, NY: Mulberry Books.
Sunshine Home
At first, visiting his Gram at a nursing home after she broke her hip was scary. After realizing his Gram is still herself even though she is in a different environment, he helps his mom and Gram share their pain of being separated and their love for each other. This book shows that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Bunting, E. (1994). Sunshine home. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
Harry and Willy and Carrothead
Harry is born without a hand, but with his prosthesis, he can do everything the other children do. Harry even stands up for his friend when another boy teases him. This book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Caseley, J. (1991). Harry and Willy and Carrothead. New York, NY: Scholastic.
The Hundred Dresses
Maddie learns the hard way that making fun of someone because they are different is not okay. This book teaches that all people deserve to be treated with respect.
Estes, E. (1944). The hundred dresses. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Three Cheers for Tacky
In this book, a group of penguins discover that in some situations, what you thought was a weakness can be a strength and that everyone does not have to be the same.
Lester, H. (1997). Three cheers for Tacky. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
Yang is a tone deaf son of musician parents who plays the violin. Yang's first American friend, Matthew, also plays the violin. Matthew's parents think playing the violin is for sissies, while Yang's parents think that Yang should spend all his time practicing the violin. Both families learn how strengths can be seen as weaknesses and weaknesses can be seen as strengths depending on your perspective. This book teaches that people have different perspectives from each other.
Namioka, L. (1997). Yang the youngest and his terrible ear. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
I have a Sister - My Sister is Deaf
A young girl describes her experiences having a deaf sister. She compares and contrasts how they experience life. Her sister does things differently because she cannot hear. She comes to the realization during a storm that her sister is lucky not to be woken up and afraid. This book teaches that not everyone is the same and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
Peterson, J.W. (1977). I have a sister-my sister is deaf. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Thank You, Mr. Falker
Trisha yearns to learn how to read, but letters get jumbled when she looks at them. Finally, her fifth grade teacher realizes she cannot read and teaches her. This book teaches that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.
Polacco, P. (1998). Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York, NY: Philomel Books.
Angel Child, Dragon Child
Hoa misses her mother when she moves to America. The American children make fun of her different Vietnamese ways. Tensions build and finally erupt, resulting in Raymond listening to Hoa's story about coming to America. Raymond's perspective of Hoa changes when he finds out that her mother is still in Vietnam. Raymond comes up with the idea to raise money for bringing Hoa's mother to America. This book teaches that people have different perspectives.
Surat, M.M. (1983). Angel child, dragon child. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Hank Zipzer: The Zippity Zinger
Hank struggles in school because of dyslexia, but one day he amazes everyone with his baseball pitching. Hank learns that he has his own strengths and weaknesses.
Winkler, H., & Oliver, L. (2004). Hank Zipzer: Vol. 4. The zippity zinger. New York, NY: Grosset and Dunlap.