Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talks

Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talk is part anti-bias training, part book review. Each short segment explores anti-bias books for home and the classroom with the goal to strengthen parents’ and teachers’ anti-bias, anti-racism lens and their ability to critically analyze children’s media.

• Lesson based on the book One by Kathryn Otoshi PK-1ST. A read aloud is to show children that sometimes bullying can occur because someone feels isolated, and we can in fact come together and find common ground as long as we stand up for each other, and stand together. Restorative Justice, Empathy and Loving Engagements

• My Family Rocks! PK-2ND. Students explore the definition of family, learn about different kinds of family structures and explore what makes their own family unique. Inter-Generational, Black Families and Black Villages

• Introduction of Transgender and Nonbinary Identities with I Am Jazz PK-2ND. Students will be able to define the words “transgender” and “nonbinary” and give examples of ways to support people of all gender identities. Queer Affirming, Trans Affirming, Collective Value

• Why Frogs and Snakes Never Play Together PK-5TH. Students will read, act out, hear a reading, or watch a performance of a play that addresses the important topic of diversity and will spark a discussion about the topic of prejudice. Diversity and Globalism, Ethnic Studies

• Lesson based on the book Milo’s Museum by Zetta Elliott PK-4TH. Discussion questions and class project to accompany Milo’s Museum. Centering Black Women and Femmes

• Lesson based on the book Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton K-2ND. Designed to help students make a personal connection to the civil rights movement. The use of food in the story helps students to identify with the civil rights activists, unified by a common goal and engaging in the common practice of fellowship over a meal. Centering Black Women and Femmes

• Multilingual Resources for Teaching about Black Lives Matter in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms

• Exploring Gender Stereotypes w/ Role Plays K-2ND. Children will use creative, dramatic expression to consider not only the roots of gender stereotypes, but also their consequences and strategies for counteracting them. Queer Affirming, Trans Affirming, Collective Value

• Multilingual Resources for Teaching about Black Lives Matter in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms K-2ND Outline and resources from a workshop for teachers.

• What is Community? K-2ND. Students will identify people and places that make their own neighborhoods special. Diversity and Globalism, Ethnic Studies

• Understanding My Family’s History K-5TH. After exposure to relevant literature in class, students will research their family history by interviewing their parents and then tell their story to classmates. Inter-Generational, Black Families and Black Villages

• Lesson based on the book Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle 2ND-3RD. Students will learn about the oral traditions of two different cultures, and how two young children braved friendship and trust and learn about different forms of resistance by enslaved Africans including oral traditions through religion, alliances with other communities, and escaping enslavement to stay together. Diversity and Globalism, Ethnic Studies

• Lesson based on the book Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate 4TH-5TH. Students will read the story of George Moses Horton, an enslaved African who taught himself to read, and eventually became a renowned poet and write their own poems about freedom. Students will also learn that there were many forms of resistance by enslaved Africans including efforts to learn and teach others to read and write. Inter-Generational, Black Families and Black Villages