27_social justice 3-5

Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice. —Secretary Arne DuncanBig Ideas For This Lesson Social Justice At Home Resources Level: Upper Elementary (3-5) Concepts: • Equity • Fairness • Privilege • Social JusticeWhile social justice is a term that has taken on many meanings, for the purposes of this lesson we willdefine social justice as an umbrella term used to describe recognition of: common humanity, disparitiesin power and privilege, and actions needed to work towards an equitable society.Privileges can be understood as unearned benefits that someone has just by being a member of a cer-tain group (gender, race, sexual orientation, family, education, country of origin, language, physical andmental ability, etc.). We can choose to become aware of our own privilege(s) and the privilege of thosearound us so that we can make informed choices. Although social justice and privilege are complex, andoften controversial, topics, the most immediate thing you can do to address issues of social justice andprivilege is to be kind, loving, and generous to the people around you. Essential VocabularyEquitable: Treating people fairly, according to their needs.Privilege: A set of unearned benefits given to a person based on membership of a particular social group (e.g., gender,race, sexual orientation, family, education, country of origin, language, physical and mental ability, etc.).Social Group: Two or more individuals who share common characteristics or identify as belonging to the same group.Social Justice: An umbrella term used to describe recognition of: common humanity, disparities in power and privi-lege, and actions needed to work towards an equitable society.© 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 1 of 2 All rights reserved.

SOCIAL JUSTICE | GRADES 3-5 PracticeHow would your school, family, and community be different if we put other’s needs before our own? In what wayscan we be more kind to those around us?In this activity, students can practice being kind by encouraging others. Have your student brainstorm “put-ups”(rather than a “put-down”) about a classmate, friend, or family member. Practicing kindness can help students torecognize the value of kind actions and affirm what is good about each individual.Person to “Put-Up”:List 5 “Put-Ups”1._______________2._______________3._______________4._______________5._______________Bonus: Share your “put-ups” with the person you chose. Student Resources• A Friendship for Today by Patricia McKissack (Grades 5 – 8)• A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park (Grades 5 – 8)• Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Grades 5 – 8)• Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan Grades 4 – 7)• Grandmama’s Pride by Becky Birtha (Grades 3 – 5)• Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt (Grades 4 – 6)• Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan (Grades 3 – 6)• Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh (Grades 2 – 5)• The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss (Grades K – 4)• The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (Grades 4 – 7) Adult Resources• Teaching for Change - Building Social Justice Starting in the Classroom (Website)• Teaching Tolerance Classroom Resources (Website)• Rethinking Our Classrooms: Teaching For Equity and Justice - Volume 2 (Book) by Bill Bigelow© 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 2 of 2 All rights reserved.