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Elementary Level Resources

Please see the resources below.

 

Identity and Diversity Month

Lesson Plans (Slides)

The Name Jar Theme Blurb Identity/Theme (Grades 3-5)
Identity Self Portrait Identity (Grades 3-5)

Texts

The Family Book by Todd Parr With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young readers and caregivers. His books promote an essential message of love and acceptance that is inspiring, empowering, and accessible.
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz One of the best children’s books about diversity, The Colors of Us is about a little girl named Lena who wants to paint a self-portrait using brown paint for her skin. When Lena and her mom take a walk through their neighborhood, she notices that there are many different shades of brown skin, and she begins to see her familiar world in a new way. The author wrote the book for her daughter, Lena, who she and her husband adopted from Guatemala.
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler Another great pick for children’s books about race is The Skin You Live In, written specifically for little kids. A rhyming book that celebrates all different skin colors—from “butterscotch gold” to “cookie dough rolled”—it makes a point to reinforce the message that the person within is what matters, not how someone looks on the outside. An ideal read-aloud book, the illustrations are brightly colored and absolutely charming and will keep your little reader engaged ‘til the end.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi This story is about Unhei, a Korean immigrant, and her first weeks at school. While her name is the identity focus of the book, language and other elements of culture. It’s a story about pride, acceptance, and friendship.
Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester In this acclaimed book, the author of the Newbery Honor Book To Be a Slave shares his own story as he explores what makes each of us special. A strong choice for sharing at home or in the classroom. Karen Barbour's dramatic, vibrant paintings speak to the heart of Lester's unique vision, truly a celebration of all of us. "This stunning picture book introduces race as just one of many chapters in a person's story" (School Library Journal). "Lester's poignant picture book helps children learn, grow, discuss, and begin to create a future that resolves differences" (Children's Literature). Julius Lester said: "I write because our lives are stories. If enough of these stories are told, then perhaps we will begin to see that our lives are the same story. The differences are merely in the details."

Additional Resources

Learning For Justice Lesson, Discovering My Identity In this lesson, students will describe aspects of their identities such as race, gender, ability, religion and more. Then after exploring Marley Dias' Black Girls Books campaign, students will analyze book illustrations and write their own book review noting how characters are similar and different from them.