Identifying Diversity in America

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Subject

Reading & Language Arts

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Bullying & Bias Rights & Activism

Essential Question

What do we gain when we learn about the lived experiences of other people?
When we learn about the lived experiences of others we gain a sense of understanding and appreciation. When someone shares with you a glimpse of their life it helps you see the world as they do. The wonderful thing about living in such a diverse country is you get to have access to many different cultures and ethnic groups. Our experiences help shape and form our outlook on life. By being open to learning of others experiences we can appreciate what makes us all unique.

Texts

Informational

Always Running

In this excerpt from his memoir, Rodriguez provides a stirring recollection from his adolescence: the first time he experienced racism as a result of being an immigrant in America. As he says, the experience "stays with [him] like a foul odor."

Luis J. Rodriguez

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Class Immigration Race & Ethnicity

July 2, 2014

Literature

Foul Line—1987

In this poem, a black woman carefully analyzes her interaction with a white waitress, whose actions, although civil, are smoldering with superiority.

Colleen McElroy

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Gender & Sexual Identity Race & Ethnicity

July 5, 2014

Literature

Why Chicken Means So Much to Me

It may seem like an empty stomach is the worst thing about being poor, but for Junior it’s not being able to save his best friend.

Sherman Alexie

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Subject

Economics

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Class

July 5, 2014

Informational

Race Riots

In this essay, the author gives a short history of race riots, showing how they were originally organized by whites in an effort to show dominance over African Americans, particularly in the South.

Learning for Justice Staff

Grade Level

9-12

Subject

Civics

History

Geography

Topic

Race & Ethnicity

June 20, 2016

Literature

i will be chosen

i will be chosen is an anthem for all middle schoolers who knows what it feels like to be left out. Now, they’ll know what it feels like to be included and to win, in more ways than one.

ramesh kathanadhi

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Bullying & Bias

July 9, 2014

Informational

‘Hope, Despair and Memory’

"Hope, Despair and Memory" is an address given by Elie Wiesel on December 11, 1986, the date Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wiesel is an author and humanitarian and is known for writing about his experience as a survivor of the Holocaust.

Elie Wiesel

Grade Level

9-12

Subject

History

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Religion

July 5, 2014

Multimedia

Knock Knock

Until Daniel Beaty was 3 years old, his father would "knock knock" on his door every morning. This performance explores the shaping of personal identity in an incarcerated parent's absence.

Daniel Beaty

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Class Gender & Sexual Identity Race & Ethnicity

October 30, 2014

Visual

Bullying

Pat Bagley says he created this cartoon "for all those who are cruelly made to feel out of place in this world."

Pat Bagley

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Bullying & Bias

July 2, 2014

Teaching Strategies

Close and Critical Reading

Shared Reading

Shared reading combines aspects of guided reading and read-aloud strategies. During shared reading, a teacher or proficient student reads the text aloud, pausing at pre-selected moments to discuss content and analyze the text. This strategy facilitates close reading of a complex text in small or whole group settings.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RI.6-12.1

July 19, 2014

Close and Critical Reading

Text-Dependent Questions

Readers must refer back to the central text to answer text-dependent questions and provide evidence from the reading to support their answers. Students provide accurate, relevant and complete evidence. To do this well, students will often need to re-read the text several times. This approach privileges the text over prior knowledge, personal experience and pre-reading activities.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RL.6-12.2, RL.6-12.4, RL.6-12.5, RL.6-12.6, RI.6-12.1, RI.6-12.2, RI.6-12.3, RI.6-12.4, RI.6-12.6

July 19, 2014

Student Tasks

Write to the Source

A Two-Sided Coin

A Two-Sided Coin asks students to demonstrate their explanatory and comparative writing skills.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

W.6-12.2, W.6-12.4, W.6-12.9

July 19, 2014

Plan Built By

Alicia_Mayes

Identifying Diversity in America

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