Lesson Plans for Every Classroom
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Fry Bread and Family Heritage
In this lesson, students will explore the richness and diversity of Indigenous peoples through the award-winning picture book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. Through a read-aloud, guided discussion, and hands-on cultural exploration activity, students will learn how food can tell stories, preserve traditions, and connect generations.
Mascots, Meaning, and Misrepresentation
In this lesson, students will explore identity, cultural respect, and representation by reading excerpts from Mascot, a novel-in-verse by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. This story follows a group of middle school students as they confront the controversy over their school’s Native-themed mascot. Students will engage in a discussion about symbols, allyship, and how to advocate for respectful representation of Native/Indigenous communities.
Voices of Heritage: Exploring Identity Through Poetry and Prose
This lesson uses the book Yes! We Are Latinos, a powerful collection of poems and prose, to explore the richness and diversity of the Latino experience in the United States. Students will examine stories of identity, heritage, struggle, and pride as shared by fictionalized Latino characters representing various cultural backgrounds. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, this lesson helps students develop a deeper understanding of how culture shapes identity and encourages them to reflect on their own voices and experiences. Students will create personal identity poems or artistic responses inspired by the voices in the text.
Parading with Pepe: A Peek into Hispanic Pride
This lesson uses the picture book Pepe and the Parade to help young learners explore Hispanic Heritage Month. Through read-aloud, discussion, and creative expression, students will discover traditions, reflect on identity, and celebrate culture.