Social Justice for Little Learners

Truth and Reconciliation: “My Heart Fills With Happiness” by Monique Gray Smith

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Topic: Truth and Reconciliation

Book Title: “My Heart Fills With Happiness”

Author: Monique Gray Smith

Link to Purchase: https://a.co/d/77XVMyr

Link for Online Read-Aloud : https://youtu.be/tO77a3-6lbo?si=tqah97unuCcViV77

Discussion Prompts/Questions:

  • “In the book, what are some of the things that filled the children’s hearts with happiness?”
  • “What fills your heart with happiness?”
  • “Who fills your heart with happiness?”
  • “What can we do to fill the hearts of other people?”

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Have students draw pictures to accompany the writing prompt “My heart fills with happiness when _________”. Use their work to create a class book and/or display.
  • Have the class make a collaborative list of games or activities at school that fill their hearts with happiness (recess, choice time, puzzles, art, Lego, etc), and place each suggestion in a jar/bowl/container. Each day, choose one or two “Heart Fillers” to do as a class until everyone’s heart filler activity has been used! There will likely be a sense of disappointment each time a student’s choice isn’t the pick. This is a very good reminder of the fact that different people find happiness in different things, and that it is important that everyone get the same turn to have full hearts. I highly recommend that this be a “bonus play time”, rather than regularly scheduled play, so that children are all playing together, and everyone will still have free choice as usual in the day.

BC Core Competency Connections:

Personal and Social

  • 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.
    • In familiar settings, I can interact with others and my surroundings respectfully.
    • I can identify when something is unfair to me or to others.

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.
    • In familiar settings, I communicate with peers and adults.
  • Collaborating
    • In familiar situations, I can participate with others.

BC Curricular Connections:

  • Understand (Big Ideas):
    • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves and our families. (ELA K)
    • Everyone has a unique story to share. (ELA K)
    • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world. (ELA K)
    • Our communities are diverse and made of individulas who have a lot in common. (SS 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)
  • 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)
      • Use personal experience and knowledge to connect to stories and other texts to make meaning. (ELA K)
    • Create and communicate (writing, speaking, representing)
      • Exchange ideas and perspectives to build shared understanding. (ELA K)
      • Use language to identify, create, and share ideas, feelings, opinions, and preferences. (ELA K)
    • Recognize causes and consequences of events, decisions, or developments in their lives. (SS 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)
    • Share ideas, information, personal feelings, and knowledge with others. (Career Education K)
    • Develop and demonstrate respectful behaviour 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 involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions.
  • Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.
  • Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.

BC ELF Link:

  • Early years spaces are inclusive.
  • Play is integral to well-being and learning.
  • Relationships are the context for well-being and learning.
  • Learning is holistic.

TFT Through-line Link:

  • Justice Seeking
  • Community Building

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