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I Am Special and You Are Special Too 

Student Teachers: Eboni Craighead & Dana Stephens/Culley
Project Children L.E.A.D. Director: Dr. Vincenne Revilla Beltran
Subject Area: Diversity, Language Arts, Art, Music, Movement
Grade level: Kindergarten (Ages 5-6) through 3rd Grade
Length of Lesson: 60 minutes

Pennsylvania Academic Standards:

Academic Standards for Arts and Humanities

9.1. Production, Performance, and Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts

9.1.3.

  1. Recognize, know, and use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principals to produce, review and revise original words in the arts.

- Music: sing

- Dance: move and perform

- Visual Arts: draw and communication

Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

1.6. Speaking and Listening

1.6.3.

  1. Listen to a selection of literature (fiction and/or nonfiction)

- Relate it to similar experiences.

D. Contribute to discussions.

- Listen to and acknowledge the contributions of others.

- Ask relevant questions.

  1. Participation in small and large group discussions and presentations.

- Present oral readings.

    1. Types of Writing

1.4.3

  1. Write narrative pieces (e.g., stories, poems, plays)

- Include detailed descriptions of people, places, and things.

- Use relevant illustrations.

II. Objectives:

Give a lesson showing that everyone is special in his or her own way. Children will demonstrate their knowledge by drawing a picture or writing about being special.

III. Materials:

Bein' With You This Way written by W. Nikola-Lisa and illustrated by Michael Bryant.

We Are All Alike...We Are All Different written and illustrated by the Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners.

Paper

Writing/drawing utensils

IV. Adaptations and Accommodations:

For older students the teacher will have them write and illustrate their own books about differences and how everyone is special. The teacher also will want students to write about what is special to them.

V. Procedures:

Review:

Teacher will ask students about differences of people. Teacher will ask what makes someone or something special.

Introduction:

The teacher will introduce today's lesson to the students. The teacher will begin class by reviewing with the students that there are many differences in the world.

Develop:

1. Teacher will read the book We Are All Alike...We Are All Different by the Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners.

2. After reading the book, the teacher will start a discussion about all the differences that make everyone special in their own way.

3. Give each student paper and writing instruments.

4. Explain to the students that they must draw a picture about themselves and what makes them special as well as what is special to them.

5. After each student comes up with their creation, have a discussion and let the children say what is special about and to them.

6. Teacher will read the book Bein' With You This Way written by W. Nikola- Lisa and illustrated by Michael Bryant.

7. Teacher will reread Bein With You This Way, this time having the children sing along and move to the words.

8. After rereading the book, the teacher will start a discussion about all the differences that makes everyone special in their own way.

9. Explain to the students that they have to write three sentences about themselves and what makes them special as well as what is special to them.

10. After each student comes up with their three sentences, have a discussion and let each child say what is special about them and to them.

Assess:

The teacher will have each student explain their picture and read their three sentences to the class. The teacher will be able to assess the student's knowledge by their picture and sentences.

Assign:

Tell the students that their homework is next time they see someone that is different than them make sure they remember everyone is special.

Close:

Teacher will close lesson by reviewing that everyone is different but special in his or her own way.

Resources:

Nikola-Lisa, W. (1994). Bein' with You This Way. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc..

The Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners. (1991). We Are All Alike...We Are All Different. New York: Scholastic Inc