Chicken Sunday
By Patricia Polacco
8 min. without interruption
12-16 min. with discussion prompts throughout/after.
A lot of different cultures converging here. Patricia’s grandmother died, so she is inducted into the family next door, and learns to see their grandmother as her own, and they as her brothers. Despite having different religions (Baptist v. Jewish), they share their traditions and learn from and with each other – providing more family. Also the surface level plot is about community as well, the children working in a local shop to raise money and by their grandmother a fancy hat for Easter. One of Polacco’s award-winning books...
This book is pretty amazing...I remember it from when I was a child solely because the ‘grumpy old man’ character had concentration camp tattoos on his arm – revealing, you know, a reason for his grumpiness. For older groups, this opens up a great discussion on empathy. (You just see the tattoos, not part of the text.)
8 min. without interruption
12-16 min. with discussion prompts throughout/after.
A lot of different cultures converging here. Patricia’s grandmother died, so she is inducted into the family next door, and learns to see their grandmother as her own, and they as her brothers. Despite having different religions (Baptist v. Jewish), they share their traditions and learn from and with each other – providing more family. Also the surface level plot is about community as well, the children working in a local shop to raise money and by their grandmother a fancy hat for Easter. One of Polacco’s award-winning books...
This book is pretty amazing...I remember it from when I was a child solely because the ‘grumpy old man’ character had concentration camp tattoos on his arm – revealing, you know, a reason for his grumpiness. For older groups, this opens up a great discussion on empathy. (You just see the tattoos, not part of the text.)
The Butter Battle Book
By Dr. Seuss
Conflict Resolution, Knowledge is Power, Peacemakers for Life, Celebrating Differences
12 min. without interruption (definitely abridgeable)
24 min. with discussion prompts.
OLDER KIDS – 4th at the youngest, ideally 5th & up
Long and short of the story is this – two groups of people who disagree over something not as important as they think it is – and this causes them each to engage in a weapons race for a hypothetical war that they never started. Which, of course, amounts in two soldiers standing on either side of a wall, glaring at each other, holding buttons keyed to detonate doomsday devices.
Available in Snell Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Conflict Resolution, Knowledge is Power, Peacemakers for Life, Celebrating Differences
12 min. without interruption (definitely abridgeable)
24 min. with discussion prompts.
OLDER KIDS – 4th at the youngest, ideally 5th & up
Long and short of the story is this – two groups of people who disagree over something not as important as they think it is – and this causes them each to engage in a weapons race for a hypothetical war that they never started. Which, of course, amounts in two soldiers standing on either side of a wall, glaring at each other, holding buttons keyed to detonate doomsday devices.
Available in Snell Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Enemy Pie
By Derek Munson
10 min. without interruption
10-15 min. with prompts/interruptions
Ideal for grades K-4, but can work for all.
Available in Peace through Play's Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
10 min. without interruption
10-15 min. with prompts/interruptions
Ideal for grades K-4, but can work for all.
Available in Peace through Play's Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
The Zax
By Dr. Seuss
4 min. without interruption
8-10 min. with discussion throughout.
FOR ALL AGES, MY FRIENDS!!
Available in Snell, within Suess' The Sneetches and Other Stories.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
4 min. without interruption
8-10 min. with discussion throughout.
FOR ALL AGES, MY FRIENDS!!
Available in Snell, within Suess' The Sneetches and Other Stories.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Ish
By Peter H. Reynolds
5 min. without interruption
12 min. with discussion prompts.
ALL AGES
Back to Fall Themes.
Back to Spring Themes.
5 min. without interruption
12 min. with discussion prompts.
ALL AGES
Back to Fall Themes.
Back to Spring Themes.
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day
By Dr. Seuss, Jack Prelutsky, Lane Smith
10 min. without interruption
12-17 min. with discussion/interruptions.
All ages, but 2nd to 5th might be best
Available in Snell Library
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
10 min. without interruption
12-17 min. with discussion/interruptions.
All ages, but 2nd to 5th might be best
Available in Snell Library
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
Amazing Grace
By Mary Hoffman
7 min. without interruption
8-12 min. with discussion throughout.
Grades K-3…Older kids may understand the implications and societal problems touched upon a little too well.
(K is on the fence of being too young. Use your judgement)
When Grace plays pretend – she ALWAYS plays the most exciting part. So, naturally, when her teacher announces that her class will be performing Peter Pan – Grace knows exactly who she wants to be. But her friends say that she can’t play the role – because she’s a girl and because she isn’t white. What will Grace do?
This book touches on identity – and how others might see your race and gender as a limit to what you can do. Grace’s friends aren’t mean – they just cannot conceive of a break from the stereotype. Grace’s grandmother takes her to see a black ballerina in the starring role of Juliet, and explains that civil rights have come a long way – and that Grace can be whatever she wants to be. Grace does an amazing job, and her friends agree.
Some Debriefing Questions –
7 min. without interruption
8-12 min. with discussion throughout.
Grades K-3…Older kids may understand the implications and societal problems touched upon a little too well.
(K is on the fence of being too young. Use your judgement)
When Grace plays pretend – she ALWAYS plays the most exciting part. So, naturally, when her teacher announces that her class will be performing Peter Pan – Grace knows exactly who she wants to be. But her friends say that she can’t play the role – because she’s a girl and because she isn’t white. What will Grace do?
This book touches on identity – and how others might see your race and gender as a limit to what you can do. Grace’s friends aren’t mean – they just cannot conceive of a break from the stereotype. Grace’s grandmother takes her to see a black ballerina in the starring role of Juliet, and explains that civil rights have come a long way – and that Grace can be whatever she wants to be. Grace does an amazing job, and her friends agree.
Some Debriefing Questions –
- Why did her friends think she couldn’t be Peter Pan? Do you agree with them?
- If they do, um, maybe speed up the debrief and emphatically explain the intrinsic potential of each person…using different words, of course.
- Why was Grace a good Peter Pan?
- Does being Peter Pan have anything to do with being white and a boy?
- Would you support Grace if she was your friend? Why is it important to give everyone a chance?
- Obviously, the world is kinder to Grace than it might be in reality…another reason to aim for younger students with this one.
Litte Blue and Little Yellow
By Leo Leonni
5 min. without interruption
10-12 min. with prompts/interruptions throughout.
K through 3rd
Availability: Ask Eboard
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
5 min. without interruption
10-12 min. with prompts/interruptions throughout.
K through 3rd
Availability: Ask Eboard
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
The Seven Silly Eaters
By Mary Ann Hoberman
9 min without interruption
14 min with interruptions/discussion throughout
Ages pre-Kay to third grade.
Mrs. Peters has seven silly eaters. Each one of her children insists on being given their own favorite food - and keeping them all happy is quite the task. When Mrs. Peters' birthday comes around - her seven silly eaters want to make her something to show their appreciation. Naturally, they each try to make her their favorite foods...but things get a bit out of hand. Can they pull together a recipe that will make everyone happy, and show their mother how much they appreciate her?
I'm fairly certain that this book rhymes - which is nice, for younger groups.
9 min without interruption
14 min with interruptions/discussion throughout
Ages pre-Kay to third grade.
Mrs. Peters has seven silly eaters. Each one of her children insists on being given their own favorite food - and keeping them all happy is quite the task. When Mrs. Peters' birthday comes around - her seven silly eaters want to make her something to show their appreciation. Naturally, they each try to make her their favorite foods...but things get a bit out of hand. Can they pull together a recipe that will make everyone happy, and show their mother how much they appreciate her?
I'm fairly certain that this book rhymes - which is nice, for younger groups.
The Sneetches
By Dr. Seuss
Celebrating Differences, Respect,
12 min without interruption [But abridgeable.]
12-15 min with discussion prompts throughout/after
Kindergarten through Third grade.
This is a widely known book, which works to both your advantage and disadvantage. The book is a not-so-subtle analogy for discrimination, and your older students will likely pick up on that. This said, it is encompassing - if a bit drawn out for younger grades (you might want to shorten the beginning/machine montage part.) Although this book does celebrate differences - the bottomline of the message is to respect one another regardless of whatever differences you think you have - or you have been told you have.
Celebrating Differences, Respect,
12 min without interruption [But abridgeable.]
12-15 min with discussion prompts throughout/after
Kindergarten through Third grade.
This is a widely known book, which works to both your advantage and disadvantage. The book is a not-so-subtle analogy for discrimination, and your older students will likely pick up on that. This said, it is encompassing - if a bit drawn out for younger grades (you might want to shorten the beginning/machine montage part.) Although this book does celebrate differences - the bottomline of the message is to respect one another regardless of whatever differences you think you have - or you have been told you have.
Stone Soup
By Jon J Muth
10 min. without interruption
12 min. with discussion throughout
The language may appeal best to 2nd grade through 4th grade. The message is rather universal.
Available in Peace through Play’s Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
10 min. without interruption
12 min. with discussion throughout
The language may appeal best to 2nd grade through 4th grade. The message is rather universal.
Available in Peace through Play’s Library.
Back to Fall Themes
Back to Spring Themes
