Learning about Discrimination with the Sneetches
published on: 3/16/2007
Contributing Teacher(s): Marcia Sullivan
Subject Area:
Guidance Program/Personal/Social Development Grade Range: Lower Elementary (K-3) Materials Needed:
Objective:
- Students will gain an understanding of discrimintation, and how it effects people. They will learn about historical events and important people that helped to make an impact on civil rights in the United States.
Instructional Strategy: Evaluating Student Understanding
Process Standards:
- Goal 3.1 identify problems and define their scope and elements
- Goal 4.3 analyze the duties and responsibilities of individuals in societies
Content Standards:
- Counseling/Guidance 2. Interacting with others in ways that respect individual and group differences
Time Allowance: One day with follow up readings
Description: This lesson was developed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. By experiencing discrimination similar to the Sneetches in the famous Dr. Seuss story, students will discover how discrimination hurts and should be relinquished.
Classroom Component:
The purpose of this lesson is to help students gain empathy for people who are discriminated against due to physical traits. This lesson is used to lead into the understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King's goals of equality for all people.
Begin the lesson by distributing stars to about 1/3 of the class, chosen randomly. The selected students will wear the stars throughout the day. These students will receive privileges such as being first to do certain activities, and being able to use various equipment and supplies in the classroom. The temperament of your class will determine the number and type of privileges the star students will receive. In past lessons I have marked the classroom drinking fountain with a sign that states "Stars Only.” I have excused the star people from various activities such as recording spelling words or completing given worksheets. I also make a point to acknowledge the "star people's" work and behavior. I generally proceed with this series of activities for the morning only, as students become quite vocal and often upset about how they are being treated. A word of caution: take care and watch your individual class carefully to monitor the extent of the activities.
After lunch, I have the students complete the assessment of the activity expressing their feelings about how they were treated. This personal assessment evaluates the students' thoughts and feelings about this lesson. It could be easily adapted for use with younger students or students with special needs by using happy and sad faces to express their feelings and by having the students illustrate rather than write about their feelings. I have used this lesson with students as young as 1st grade and as old as 4th grade with positive results and amazing discussion.
Upon completion of the assessment, I read The Star Bellied Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss. We then discuss our feelings and thoughts about having a star, or not having a star. We discuss what really makes a person important, and compare the discrimination that we felt to the discrimination that has taken place in our countries" history. Students also recognize through this lesson that discrimination is not only based on race, but can be due to physical features or disabilities.
During the following days, I introduce the students to Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridges through books and websites, and we talk about events in their lives that helped to change history.
Suggested Resources:
- What Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?, by Margaret Friskey
- A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr., by David Adler
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Website: http://www.holidays.net/mlk/story.htm
- I Have a Dream Speech (Audio and Text): http://www.holidays.net/mlk/speech.htm
- The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles
- Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges
- Ruby Bridges Website: http://www.rubybridges.org/story.htm
- A Picture Book of Rosa Parks, by David Adler
- If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks, by Faith Ringgold
- Rosa Parks Website: http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=117
What is it like to be a Sneetch? – Personal Assessment
Circle the answer that tells about your experience.
- I had a star.
Yes
No
- I thought I was treated fairly.
Yes
No
- Everyone was nice to me.
Yes
No
- People were mean to me.
Yes
No
- Having a star made one person better than another.
Yes
No
- Having a star was not important.
Yes
No
- I got to do everything that everyone else did.
Yes
No
- I felt… (circle all the ways you felt )
HappyEmbarrassedAngryConfusedProudImportantSadFrustratedI want to tell you
For additional information contact :
Marcia Sullivan
Espy Elem.
Nixa R-II
(417) 725-7440
EMAIL: msullivan@mail.nixa.k12.mo.us
