Happy PPBF! It's so good to be back after a week off.
Look what's in the character case as we launch into Veterans Day:
Today's pick perfectly complements our citizenship focus this month.
Title: I Pledge Allegiance
Author: Pat Mora & Libby Martinez
Illustrator: Patrice Barton
Publisher: Knopf Books For Young Readers
Date: April 22, 2014
Suitable for: K-3rd grade
Themes: citizenship, patriotism, pride
Brief Synopsis: Libby and her great-aunt Lobo practice the Pledge of Allegiance together, but for very different reasons. Libby is a young child who gets to lead the pledge in her classroom; Lobo, her adult relative of Mexican descent, is studying to become an American citizen.
Opening page:
Resources:
*Learn the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.
*Download the Pledge of Allegiance Cut 'n Paste Activity
*A pledge is a promise, so use this as an opportunity to review your classroom constitution or social contract. Discuss or write about what's working well in your classroom community so far. What needs more work? How do we hold one another accountable for the promise that we make when we say the pledge? Challenge students to imagine an instance in which we might no longer be able to uphold the promise that we made in a pledge. What might that experience be like and what would we need in that situation?
*Make a patriotic visual display thanking soldiers for their service;
here are a few in our first-grade hallways celebrating the Veterans who've served to protect our country and keep us safe and free.
Why I like this book: Whether you're born into America or you've moved here, like Lobo, and been a resident for awhile, citizenship is a big deal. It's all about making wherever you go better because you're there. In this heartwarming, intergenerational tale, Lobo explains to her young niece why she'd want to become an American citizen despite her love for her native Mexico and its Spanish language and culture. As the two practice the pledge side by side, it becomes clear that there's something very special about gaining Citizenship.
Use this gem to find out from your learners what makes them a good citizen. How do they make where they go better? How is their class better because they're in it? How are the Scouts or their sports team better? How is their family better? How about their community? Discuss and map the ways that citizens can work individually and in concert to make the world a better place.
Perfect choice for this week and Veterans Day. I love how you focus on such great activities for children to help them understand that being a citizen is a big deal. And, it's great that the author chose a Mexican relative for this story.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I knew you'd connect with this one. And I know you'll agree that it's really special!
DeleteOh, hooray! What a perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect picture book!
ReplyDeleteYes, Joanne; it's perfectly perfect. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThis sounds like an awesome book. Thanks for sharing the hallway decor! Love it!
ReplyDeleteA PERFECT selection for this time of year! My Mom Person got to meet Ms Mora at the Texas Book Festival. She read this book and talked about it. It sounds like she is a rather awesome lady.
ReplyDeleteCute illustrations.
ReplyDeletewhat a neat way to write about the Pledge and what it means to different people. Sometimes we forget how powerful a handful of words can be.
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