teaching Social justice to 4th & 5th Graders
bridging the gapPortland is the whitest city in America, and it gets whiter every year.
As a teacher in NW Portland, I often think about how my students fit into this picture. What does this reality look like for my students of color? How do my white students interact with their world because of its homogeny? How will these kids develop true, thorough understanding of other's lived experiences if they never come across them? This unit was born from a desire to approach these concerns head on. I was excited to find that my students were just as eager to talk about these subjects as I was, and they had a lot to say. Over ten weeks, we learned from each other as we discussed issues of implicit bias, race, class, gender, and other topics crucial to developing a strong sense of social responsibility, cultural humility, and radical empathy. |
Additional BACKGROUND reading/viewing:
brainstorming together
Introduction:
"I’m going to be doing a unit with all of you that talks about the Big Issues and what we can do about them. What are the “big issues”? That’s up to you. I have some ideas about things I think are important. But I also want to hear from you about what you think is important." |
Brainstorming Questions:
|
goals
CULTURAL AWARENESS & COMPETENCY Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusant doloremque laudantium, totam rem.
|
AWARENESS OF PRIVILEGE Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusant doloremque laudantium, totam rem.
|
PASSION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusant doloremque laudantium, totam rem.
|
METHODS
STUDENT-LEDI wanted student voices are at the forefront of the unit, and I wanted it to be a space where they could direct their own learning. The curriculum was based on their responses to the brainstorming session on Day 1. |
CONVERSATIONALThe workshops are propelled by asking leading questions to inspire conversation with students. Kids are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings on subjects; I just try to fill in the blanks. |
OPEN ACCESS TO INFORMATIONI believe that everyone, especially kids, should have access to information. I try to answer all questions as fully and honestly as I can - even if the answer is "I don't know yet."
|
Topics- black lives matter
|
resources |
|
← The kids love this video!! |