It's the 21st week of Kindergarten and it's a 4-day week. MLK Day kicks off the week and fuels class discussions on kindness and learning from the past.
3 Big Goals:
Review the Leadership and Influence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Relate Past, Present, & Future of Civil Rights to Kinders
Continue Winter Weather Unit
Famous Words:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When this school year started in August I had a big goal in mind... I wanted my students to know who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was BEFORE January. I wanted the discussion about fairness and acceptance to begin early and become part of our classroom culture. We've had many talks about embracing and celebrating our differences and using differences as a means to include everyone and to grow ourselves rather than cause divisions. This week that discussion will continue as we focus on new-to-Kindergarten words like protest and activist. We will discuss the importance of Dr. King's leadership while openly acknowledging that he wasn't perfect and, most importantly, that his work is not finished. I'll always relate this week to kindness because it is a way for Kindergarteners to feel like they are a part of the movement... it doesn't take money or old age to show kindness... anyone can and everyone should. In core math we are continuing a focus on 3D shapes and beginning our study of teen numbers. Thankfully, this concept has been a large part of our calendar activities for months and usually comes easily to my kinders as a result. In literacy we are pressing on with Saxon Phonics, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, and with basic sight words. Our theme is Kindness and the life of Dr. King, but in the background we will also continue our study of winter and snow.
This week's texts cover a variety of genres and topics. Brad Meltzer's I am... books are wonderful for teaching about historical figures in a child-friendly yet honest way. My students love the National Geographic biographies because they include lots of photographs that really bring history to life. Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day is a great way to continue the winter theme while providing young students the opportunity to relate to characters of color.
21st Century K Resources for the Week:
No comments:
Post a Comment