Social Justice for Little Learners

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Topic: God’s Plan for Unique You

Book Title: “Swirly”

Author: Sara Saunders

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/2yUwcaT

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://youtu.be/3uusOB9gBhA?si=1XFQkmBa9JUwN0kn

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

• Draw student attention to the way that Lila’s skin changes over the course of the book. “What do you notice? Why is it important?”
• The book tells us that Jesus is swirly, too. “Why is being swirly like Jesus a special blessing? How can we all become a little bit swirly, even if we always live in the same place?” (learn more about other people and places, etc)
• “Where are places that you belong?”

Follow-Up Activity:

• This is a good time for playdough that is ready to be mixed…or that you are willing to have mixed! Have students create a variety of “towns” each using a single colour of playdough, and then do some trading and mixing of bits…watch your swirly communities come to life!

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 myself as different from others.
• Social Awareness and Responsibility
  • I am aware that other people can be different from me.
  • I can help and be kind.

Thinking

• Creative Thinking
  • I get ideas when I play.
• Critical Thinking
  • I can explore materials and actions.

Communication

• Communicating
  • In a safe and supported environment, I respond meaningfully to communication from peers and adults.
  • I can understand and share basic information about topics that are important to me.
• Collaborating
  • In familiar situations, I can participate with others.

BC Curricular Connections:

• Understand (Big Ideas):
  • Everyone has a unique story to share. (ELA K)
  • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. (ELA K)
  • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common. (SS K)
  • Stories and traditions about ourselves and our families reflect who we are and where we are from. (SS K)
  • Confidence develops through the process of self-discovery. (Career Education K)
  • Learning about ourselves and others helps us develop a positive attitude and caring behaviours, which helps us build healthy relationships. (Physical and Health Education K)
  • Engagement in the arts creates opportunities for inquiry through purposeful play. (Arts Education K)

• Know (Content):
  • Ways in which individuals and families differ and are the same. (SS K)
  • Rights, roles, and responsibilities of individuals and groups. (SS K)
  • Cultural and social awareness, achieved by exploring self-identity, acknowledging cultural differences, honouring indigenous traditions. (Career Education K)
  • Caring behaviours in groups and families. (Physical and Health Education K)
• 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)
    • Recognize the importance of story in personal, family, and community identity. (ELA K)
  • Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
    • Use language to identify, create, and share ideas, feelings, opinions, and preferences. (ELA K)
  • Acknowledge different perspectives on people, places, issues, or events in their lives. (SS K)
  • Identify fair and unfair aspects of events, decisions, or actions in their lives and consider appropriate courses of action. (SS K)
  • Identify and appreciate their personal attributes, skills, interests, and accomplishments. (Career Education K)
  • Share ideas, information, personal feelings, and knowledge with others. (Career Education K)
  • Identify personal skills, interests, and preferences. (Physical and Health Education K)
  • Develop and demonstrate respectful behaviours when participating in activities with others. (Physical and Health Education K)

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