Web of Respect

Positive Images

Happy to Be Me

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Objectives

• To develop a sense of pride in one's self and one's heritage.
• To encourage positive language to describe one's heritage.
• To recognize children's home cultures through sharing of family traditions.

Vocabulary

The use of the following vocabulary should be encouraged throughout the teaching of this cyberlesson.

self esteem --pride in and respect of self.	heritage--something passed down through generations.
traditions--passing down customs from generations to generations usually by oral traditions.	special--unusual, exceptional.

Pre-assessment	Children are asked to think about themselves and to be ready to share their thoughts about what makes them special. Teacher may need to model sharing to get the activity started. Encourage children to think about the way they look , or something they are very good at doing and enjoy. After each child has shared, it would help for the teacher to repeat what s/he heard. "I heard _______ say she was special because _________." A second person could record the comments for later reference.
Activities	#1 Poetry Materials: poems that promote a positive self-image to read aloud, for example: I Want to Be by Thylias Moss Me, I Am by Jack Prelutsky I Can by Mari Evans By Myself by Eloise Greenfield enlarged copies of selected poems Procedure: Read each poem, followed by a brief discussion /question period about the content. How did the person feel about his/her self? What was he or she especially proud of? What part of the poem tells you how the person felt? After reading a second poem, ask questions such as: "How did the person in this poem feel ? How did the person in this poem differ from the child in the first poem?" Display poems around classroom so children can read the poems alone. Referring to various poems throughout the mini-lessons will reinforce the objective of developing a sense of pride in self.
	#2 Draw a Picture Using the prepared sheet, children will draw a picture of what it is that makes them special. Materials: • copy of activity sheet  • pencils for drawing • markers for coloring, including skin tone markers or crayons  Procedure: Review list of comments made in the pre-assessment. Some children may want to change or add to their comment. Encourage children to draw themselves as "special." Help children with the writing if necessary. Display pictures when completed. While the children draw, the teacher may play I Believe I Can Fly, or This Little Light of Mine as background music. Many children already know the song and will joyfully join in singing. The word light can mean talent, vision, hope, energy, love, personality, or anything else one would like for it to mean.
Reading	Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.
	#4 Family Links Our families can be very important in providing the kind of support that makes us who we are. With her aunt's encouragement, Grace is able to achieve something that she really wanted to do. Materials: copy of the book  copy of Amazing Grace paper dolls  Procedure: After reading the story, encourage the use of words such as confident, assured, proud, when discussing Grace's feelings about herself. Children are to share a time when a family member encouraged them to try an activity. Discuss other activities, traditions, celebrations or customs that make their family special. Home Link: Send letter to parents explaining the activities that have occurred and requesting their participation by talking with their child about special traditions/celebrations they share as a family. Children will be asked to bring something to share (pictures, art object, game, etc.) that represents their family's heritage. For those who may not be able to bring something, an adult at school could help the child draw something that would be special for their family. Parents could also be encouraged to come into school and share their family traditions.   Revisit the poems, songs, and pre-assessment chart throughout the year. Children can use paper dolls to dress Grace in many of the rolls she plays in the book. Make copies of the blank clothing so children can design their own clothes for Grace. Some may want to design clothing they would like to use themselves. Sharing time is a wonderful occasion to discuss our similarities and the differences that make us unique.

Websites

Amazing Grace: Program description and suggested activities from the video.[Reading Rainbow website]

Poet: Thylias Moss: Background information about the author of I Want to Be [Michigan Today, University of Michigan]

Poetry Corner: Me, I am! by Jack Prelutsky. This poem is also available in the Random House Book of Poetry. [Anaranjado Internacional]

Self-Esteem in Children of Color: A magazine article by Jan McFarlane [New York State's Citizen's Coalition for Children]

This Little Light of Mine [Quicktime]

Materials

poems that promote a positive self image book of Amazing Grace Paper Dolls activity sheet markers  tape recording or web link of I Believe I Can Fly, and This Little Light of Mine

Books

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman. Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do. Dial, 1991. (E)

Amazing Grace Paper Dolls based on the characters created by Mary Hoffman.Dial, 1998.

Honey I Love by Eloise Greenfield. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1972 (811)

I Want to Be by Thylias Moss. After some thought a young girl describes in poetic terms the kind of person she wants to be. Dial, 1991. (E)

Pass It On: African American Poetry for Children selected by Wade Hudson. Scholastic, 1993. (811)

Stonecutter by Demi. A stonecutter wants to be everything that he is not and has to learn the hard way that what he really wants to be is exactly who he is. Crown, 1995. (398.2)