According to developmental science, third- to fifth-grade students become less egocentric in thinking about and treating those around them, and they better understand that fair does not always mean equal. They also tend to follow rules without questioning why they exist or whether they are fair. With this in mind, Grades 3-5 lessons provide students with opportunities to think about and discuss the perspectives and feelings of people who have been treated unfairly because of their race and challenge students to think about the differences between equity and equality. Lessons also encourage students to consider when they should or shouldn't break rules regarding issues of justice and fairness.
3-5 Lesson Plans
The materials provided are standalone lessons. They can be integrated into existing materials or presented as an individual lesson. Lesson plans are designed to be read as a whole group. They include sample language, a summary of the book and relevant standards, discussion questions, grade-appropriate writing activity, and keywords. Lesson activities and discussion questions can be adapted to small groups. The discussions focus on providing students the important opportunity to grapple with issues of justice and fairness. Feel free to add questions to address specific comprehension skills the class may be working on.
Note: These lessons are intentionally not scripted. Use your professional judgement when making decisions for your class and students.
Helpful Hints: Before the read aloud, review the key terms with your students in developmentally appropriate ways and add them to your word wall. During the read aloud, feel free to integrate normative literacy questions (i.e., main idea, identifying details, inference, comprehension, etc.) as they align with your required learning standards. After the read aloud, use discretion and cover discussion questions that fit into your time frame and adjust based on whole vs. small group needs.
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