Disability Pride & Learning Differences: One-Class Research Library Activity and Read-aloud Lesson

Description

Celebrate learning differences, Disability Pride Month (July), or Disability Employment Awareness Month (October) with these easy-prep elementary library activities. One-Class Research activities are a no-pressure way for young elementary students to explore and begin using the library’s online resources.

After listening to a book, students learn more about disabilities and learning differences using Pebble Go, World Book Kids, Britannica Kids, or another database.
Two bonus response activities can be used to focus on students’ connections with the “Just Ask!” book, instead of research skills.

This is not a complete research unit; it’s a very first introduction and exploration for kindergarten through 3rd grade students to the library resources. The keywords to type in the search bar are provided and pre-researched, so students are guaranteed to find what they are looking for.

This research lesson includes:

Suggested book list for reading aloud to students (1 page, see book titles below)

• The books featured are about disability awareness, disability pride, and living with a disability, with an emphasis on what a disabled person CAN do, rather than what they cannot.
• Most of the books are also by authors and illustrators who have disabilities, or who are disability advocates.
• All books have been evaluated and vetted by Mrs. J in the Library, a certified school librarian, and are appropriate for reading to a primary elementary class.

Ten (10) Printable One-Class Research Activities (52 pages)

• Editable in Microsoft PowerPoint
• 7 different versions for my top 2 recommended books “Just Ask” and “All of Us,” for students to use a single online resource –
  • Pebble Go or Pebble Go Next databases,
  • World Book Kids or Student online encyclopedia,
  • Britannica Kids online encyclopedia, or
  • BrainPOP or BrainPOP Jr. website.
• 1 version for all 9 featured books – Students choose from Pebble Go, World Book Kids, and Britannica Kids
• 2 bonus read-aloud activities for the “Just Ask” book invites students to draw or write about their own “powers” and abilities.
• Printed 2 per sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ letter-size paper.
• Full color and black & white versions

Ten (10) Digital One-Class Research Activities (26 slides)

• Editable in Google Slides
• 7 different versions that use a single online resource for my 2 top pick books, just like the printable version
• 1 version for all 9 featured books – Students choose from 3 resources, like in the printable version
• 2 bonus drawing & writing activities for the “Just Ask” book, just like the printable version
• Additional resource graphics are included to customize the activity to what you have access to. (e.g. National Geographic Kids, Notebook Sheep, ebooks, etc.)

Comprehensive, Editable Lesson Plan (7 pages) in Google Docs for kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade, including:

• AASL National School Library Standards for Learners,
• National Common Core English Language Arts Standards,
• Objective(s) and/or learning targets,
• Essential questions,
• ​Suggested assessment methods,
• ​Materials needed,
• ​Detailed procedure (great for substitutes!), and
• ​Reflection and notes space

Teacher Notes and Video Directions to show you how to use this activity in an online learning platform, such as Google Classroom or SeeSaw (2 pages)

Please note: These lesson activities are designed to complement a read-aloud. The actual read-aloud story comes from you!

 

My top 2 recommended books to read aloud with this lesson:

• “Just Ask! Be Brave, Be Different, Be You” by Sonya Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael López – features children with a variety of different disabilities and learning differences
• “All of Us: A First Conversation about Disability” by Megan Madison & Jessica Ralli and illustrated by Jonathan Eden

More recommended books:

• “Sam’s Super Seats” by Keah Brown and illustrated by Sharee Miller – written by a disabled activist, features cerebral palsy
• “Cesaria Feels the Beat” by Denise Rosario Adusei and illustrated by Priscila Soares – main character is Deaf
• “What Happened to You?” by James Catchpole and illustrated by Karen George – written by a disabled parent, features limb differences
• “Mama Car” by Lucy Catchpole and illustrated by Karen George – written by a disabled parent, features wheelchair use
• “Song in the City” by Daniel Bernstrom and illustrated by Jenin Mohammed – main character is blind
• “Mara Hears in Style” by Terri Clemmons and illustrated by Lucy Rogers – main character is Deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL)
• “Come Over to My House” by Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett – co-written by a disability advocate, features wheelchair use

Other picture books about notable people with disabilities or disability pride & awareness may be substituted by changing the book cover image on the editable activities.

 

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© Mrs. J in the Library – By purchasing this product, you receive a one-user license. Copying or distributing to others is prohibited.  ​See my Digital ​Resources Terms of Use and Store Policies page for more information. For teacher-librarians: You may use this product with all of your classes and students.