Teaching Diversity and Acceptance with The Sneetches

Date: March 6, 2012 Prerequisite Knowledge: y Students should have a basic understanding of fairness and respect in the classroom. Student Objectives: y Students will experience unfair treatment based on physical appearances to help develop a sense of equity. y Students will apply literature to real-life experiences. Illinois State Learning Standards: y Social and Emotional Learning Standards o 2.A.1b. Use listening skills to identify the feelings and perspectives of others. o 2B.1a. Describe the ways that people are similar and different. y CC.K.R.L.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. y CC.K.SL.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. Materials: y 6-8 green stars and tape y The Sneetches, by Dr. Suess Procedure Opening: Ask students to think about how they are different from other students in the classroom and the school. Students may come up with race, gender, favorites, etc. Discuss with students whether or not any of these traits makes one person better or worse than others in the classroom or school. Tell children that we are going to read a book in which these kinds of differences to matter to a group of creatures. Lesson: Show students a picture of both of the Sneetches. Have students compare the two Sneetches. This picture should show expressions and attitudes of each them. Make sure students notice the differences in the attitudes between the Sneetches. Ask students if they have they ever felt the way the Plain-Belly Sneetches seem to feel (sad, left out, etc.). Allow for a few responses. Ask students if physical differences should determine how people are treated. Read the story, stopping for discussion when necessary and appropriate. Have students predict what will happen with Mr. McBean comes. After the story, put green stars on several of the students. Give fake money to the students who have green stars on them. Ask students without the green stars how they feel when they don t have money in their hands. Discuss with students why they it is not fair that students with stars get money and students without do not.? Closing: Talk with students about why we should not treat people unfairly in the classroom. How could it hurt people s feelings in our classroom? Talk to students about the benefits of treating everyone

with fairness and respect. Should physical differences ever determine how people are treated? Why or why not Accommodations: Students who have attention or focus issues should be seated near the teacher. Assessment: Students will be assessed using observation of listening and participation.