I feel that diversity and social class is something that needs to be taught and explained to our students to help them better understand the differences in people and in societies. I chose Esperanza Rising as my anchor book on the theme of social class/diversity. Esperanza is in high power in her own country and is viewing anyone below her as little. Until she herself is put in their position and has to work in America and help provide for her family. This helps teach students that everyone is different and that social class is a blurred line that is easily crossed because no one person is better than another based on what they have or who they are.
PICTURE BOOKS
The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph (HarperTrophy, 2002)
I chose this book because the main character Anna is a 12 year old girl who has a passion to be a writer, in a country where “words are feared”. She wants to think outside of the box and not conform to what society whats her to be because she knows her words can change her community. This book would help show students that even in the most difficult situations, you can break societal lines and be who you are and maybe change society along the way.
One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
I chose this book because it is similar to Esperanza Rising. Farah is new to America where she doesn’t seem to blend in. She sticks out like her “one green apple. She soon realizes the similarities between her and he classmates and how they’re not all that different. This will show that even people that maybe not be of the same social class, culture, look like you do, can actually be just like you.
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Eve Bunting
I chose this book also by Eve Bunting because I feel I can use this to show how when people view diversity as a bad thing or we try to make everyone the same and create the social divides and lines, this will show what could happen. It is a part of our history and how a certain type of people thought another type of people were lower class or not as important and shows how that can affect society. This books shows how the Holocaust played out but uses animals in a forest for a more child friendly explanation. It shows how different types were separated and how others didn’t care because it wasn’t them. It shows how a bad view on diversity can change society for the worse.
****These are the books I have started with but I feel a little muddled on if I am using the correct words for my theme and if my books are a little bit of a stretch so please any suggestions would be quite helpful. Thank you****