Social Justice for Little Learners

Grade Level: Grade Two

Topic: God’s Plan for Unique You

Book Title:“Like Me”

Author: Laura Wifler

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/ixsWG5Y

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://youtu.be/aO8WtzU12MI?si=xVNFa6Wytx6rkyYd

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

• “The author tells us that we all give God glory in different ways, and if we look closely, we can learn a bit about God through each person. What is something that we can learn about God from each other?” (suggestion: talk about the fruit of the spirit, and point out ways that different people in the class demonstrate these characteristics)
• “In the book, the boy remembers that some people play and act differently than others, because their brains and bodies work or act differently, while other people play and act differently because they are interested in different things. What is a way that you play or act differently from others? What is a way that you play or act the same as others?”
• “How can we remember the three important truths: ‘God made you, God loves you, God is kind to you’?”

Follow-Up Activity:

• Give students the opportunity to show ways that God has created them to be unique and amazing! Provide open creative time, where they can use art processes, building (Lego, loose parts, etc), tools or technologies, writing, etc, to share about their dreams, interests, and abilities, allowing them to demonstrate that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. After they’ve created something, have a time where they can share with each other (and with buddy classes, if possible).

BC Core Competency Connections:

Personal and Social

• Personal Awareness & Responsibility
  • I can show a sense of accomplishment and joy, and express some wants, needs, and preferences. I can sometimes recognize my emotions.
• Positive Personal and Cultural Identity
  • 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 am aware that other people can be different from me.
  • In familiar settings, I can interact with others and my surroundings respectfully.

Thinking

• Creative Thinking
  • I get ideas when I use my senses to explore.
• Critical Thinking
  • I can explore with a purpose in mind and use what I learn.

Communication

• Communicating
  • I can understand and share basic information about topics that are important to me.
• Collaborating
  • 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 2)
  • Everyone has a unique story to share. (ELA 2)
  • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. (ELA 2)
  • Confidence develops through the process of self-discovery. (Career Education 2)

• Know (Content):
  • Cultural and social awareness, achieved by exploring self-identity, acknowledging cultural differences, honouring indigenous traditions. (Career Education 2)
  • Factors that influence self-identity (could include self-esteem, self-efficacy, cultural heritage, body image) (Personal and Health Education 2)

• 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 2)
    • Demonstrate awareness of the role that story plays in personal, family, and community identity. (ELA 2)
  • Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
    • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding. (ELA 2)
    • Create stories and other texts to deepen awareness of self, family, and community. (ELA 2)
  • Identify and appreciate their personal attributes, skills, interests, and accomplishments. (Career Education 2)
  • Share ideas, information, personal feelings, and knowledge with others. (Career Education 2)
  • Identify personal skills, interests, and preferences, and describe how they influence self-identity  (Physical and Health Education 2)

FPPL Link:

• Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
• Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
• Learning involves patience and time.
• Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.
• Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.

BC ELF Link:

• Children are strong, capable in their uniqueness, and full of potential.
• Early years spaces are inclusive.
• Play is integral to well-being and learning.
• Relationships are the context for well-being and learning.

TFT Through-line Link:

• Community Building