Social Justice for Little Learners

Introductory Lesson: “Come With Me” by Holly M. McGhee

Grade Level: PS3-Grade 2

Topic: Introduction

Book Title: “Come With Me”

Author: Holly M. McGhee

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/0bpHDEj

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5vyLYkkAxk

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

  • “How did the little girl and her father make the world a better place by tipping their hats to people? Why was that important?”
  • “How did the little girl and her mother make the world a better place by going to their grocery store? Why was that important?”
  • “How did the little girl and the little boy do something to make the world a better place? Why was that important?”
  • “What does it mean, when the author said ‘two people together are stronger than one’?”
  • “When we look at the last pages, what are the things people are doing to make the world a better place?”
  • “What can we do to make the world a better place?”

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Schedule a “playdate” with another classroom at your school, preferably a group you don’t often engage with directly. Encourage students to play with someone new, and to take turns choosing the activities. This play time could be inside or outside, depending on your location, on which classes are playing together, and on play options you have available to your groups.

BC Core Competency Connections:

  • Personal and Social
    • Positive Personal and Cultural Identity
      • I am aware of myself as different from others.
      • I am aware of different aspects of myself. I can describe my family, home, and/or community (people and/or place).
    • Social Awareness and Responsibility
      • I can be aware of others and my surroundings.
      • I can help and be kind.
  • Thinking
    • Creative Thinking
      • I get ideas when I play.
  • Communication
    • Communicating
      • In a safe and supported environment, I respond meaningfully to communication from peers and adults.
    • Collaborating
      • In familiar situations, I can participate with others.
      • In familiar situations, I cooperate with others for specific purposes.
      • I contribute during group activities, cooperate with others, and listen respectfully to their ideas.

BC Curricular Connections:

  • Understand (Big Ideas):
    • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves and our families. (ELA K-2)
    • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world. (ELA K-2)
    • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common. (SS K)
    • Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment. (SS 1)
    • Individuals have rights and responsibilities as global citizens. (SS 2)
    • Strong communities are the results of being connected to family and community and working together toward common goals. (Career Education K-2)
  • Know (Content):
  • Do (Curricular Competency):
    • Comprehend and connect (reading, listening, viewing)
      • Engage actively as listeners, viewers, and readers. As appropriate, to develop understanding of self, identity, and community. (ELA K,1,2)
      • Recognize the importance of story in personal, family, and community identity. (ELA K,1)
      • Demonstrate awareness of the role that story plays in personal, family, and community identity. (ELA 2)
      • Use personal experience and knowledge to connect to stories and other texts to make meaning. (ELA K,1,2)
    • Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
      • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding. (ELA K,1,2)
      • Use language to identify, create, and share ideas, feelings, opinions, and preferences. (ELA K)


FPPL Link:

  • Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
  • Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions.
  • Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.

BC ELF Link:

  • Families have the most important role in contributing to children’s well-being and learning.
  • Play is integral to well-being and learning.
  • Relationships are the context for well-being and learning.

TFT Through-line Link:

  • Justice Seeking
  • Community Building
  • Servant Working

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