Social Justice for Little Learners

Grade Level: PS 3

Topic: Personal Identity

Book Title: “You Be You”

Author: Linda Kranz

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/hXLpku9

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://youtu.be/bCUmJP750hI?si=zWBqngNKKtng2lmE

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

• Note: Depending on the age and ability of students, you may want to picture walk and paraphrase the book, to shorten up and/or clarify.

• Before Reading: Look at the details of “Adri”, and make a plan to search for him within the book. Plan to point out things that make him different from other rock fish.

• During/After Reading
  • What is something Adri noticed about fish? (some swim up, some swim in circles, different sizes, etc)
  • How did we find Adri in the book? (He was smaller, he had a yellow head, etc)
  • Adri noticed things that were the same and different about all of the fish…they are all unique and special. What makes you special? (prompt children to describe appearance, likes/dislikes, things they are good at, etc)

Follow-Up Activity:

• Use loose parts (art supplies such as pipe cleaners and feather, buttons or rocks, etc) to create a self portrait. Take a picture of each child with their portrait, for sharing to parents and/or for a display.
• Provide an oval-ish “fish” shape (like Adri) for students to decorate with crayons, markers, paint, etc, to create a “There are so many of us, we all have something special that only we can share!” display.

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)
  • People create art to express who they are as individuals and community. (Arts 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)
  • Personal and collective responsibility associated with creating, experiencing, or sharing in a safe learning environment. (Arts Education K)
  • Processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, and techniques to support arts activities. (Arts 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)
  • Create artistic works collaboratively and as an individual, using ideas inspired by imagination, inquiry, experimentation, and purposeful play. (Arts Education K)
  • Explore artistic expressions of themselves and community through creative processes. (Arts 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