Diversity Bookbags: Grade 2

Materials List & Family Activities

Books:

• How My Family Lives in America by Susan Kuklin
• The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
• Russ and the Almost Perfect Day by Janet Elizabeth Rickert

Audio: Cassette Tape & Book: Bein’ With You This Way by Lisa W. Nikola

• Other Materials:
• Photo Album & Index cards
• Blank tapes (tape recorder may be borrowed from the library)
• 12 Red Game Pieces & 12 White Game Pieces
• Game Board
• Journal
• Feedback Form

Recipes: Families may add a recipe to the ring.

• Tiba Yoka/Baked Bananas (Africa)
• Sweet Red Pepper Soup

Game: Alquerque (Spain)

Suggested Activities for families (over):

The Other Side

Think and talk about these questions with your family:

• Do you think this story could happen in your town?
• Why do you think Clover’s mother told her not to climb over the fence?
• Pretend you are one of the characters in this story. Who would you be and how do you think you would feel? Talk about this with someone at home.

Russ and the Almost Perfect Day

Think and talk about these questions with your family:

• Would you have made the same choice that Russ did?
• Think of a time when you had to make a tough decision in your life. What was it like?
• Draw a picture and/or write a story about your almost perfect day.

How My Family Lives in America

• Ask your family about your own personal family traditions.
• Try one of the recipes in the back of the book.
• Add a picture, or drawing, of your family to the family album included in the bookbag. Use an index card to make a caption for the picture and include that on your page as well.

Bein’ with You this Way (audio)

• Try reading the book as a rap.
• If you have a tape recorder and blank tape at home, record your voice as you recite the rap. Then do it with a family member! (You may borrow a tape recorder from the library if you would like.)