Domain:
History & Culture
Competency:
Build empathy across differences
🎂
10-12 year olds
⏰
20 to 25 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Students will identify and explain the symbolism in 'Dreamers' to understand how it fosters empathy and builds a sense of community.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'Dreamers' by Yuyi Morales, an immigrant mother and her child Begin a journey to find their place in a new country. The story, illustrated with rich and symbolic imagery, highlights their resilience and the challenges of adapting to an unfamiliar world. Through poetic language, the book emphasizes the importance of storytelling and libraries as sources of hope and belonging. Accompanied by a brief autobiographical essay from Morales, the book also includes a list of inspirational books and a description of the creative process behind the illustrations. This picture book memoir is a tribute to the dreams and strengths that migrants carry with them, offering a promise of better tomorrows despite uncertain times.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation | Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, written by Duncan Tonatiuh | This book tells the true story of Sylvia Mendez, an immigrant child who played a pivotal role in the fight for school desegregation, showcasing resilience and the importance of standing up for one's rights. |
| We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga | Published by Charlesbridge, written by Traci Sorell | This book celebrates a year in the life of modern Cherokee people and emphasizes the themes of community and gratitude through the lens of cultural traditions and storytelling. |
| Last Stop on Market Street | Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, written by Matt de la Peña | This story follows a boy and his grandmother on a bus ride, exploring themes of diversity, empathy, and finding beauty and hope in everyday life. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience | The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. | The immigrant mother in 'Dreamers' shows resilience as she navigates challenges in a new country, never giving up hope for a better future for her child. |
| Adaptation | The process of adjusting to new conditions or environments. | In 'Dreamers', adaptation is illustrated by the family's ability to find joy and meaning in their new surroundings, despite the obstacles they face. |
| Belonging | The feeling of being accepted and comfortable in a place or group. | The library becomes a place of belonging for the characters in 'Dreamers', where they feel welcomed and inspired by the stories they discover. |
| Symbolism | The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. | The butterflies in 'Dreamers' serve as symbolism for transformation and hope, reflecting the characters' journey towards finding a new home. |
| Empathy | The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. | Reading 'Dreamers' helps build empathy by allowing readers to experience the journey of immigrants through the story's vivid imagery and personal narrative. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "How can our personal stories and experiences help us understand and connect with people from different backgrounds?"
Today, we are going to explore how our personal stories and experiences can help us connect with people from different backgrounds. As we begin, let's think about a time when you had to adapt to something new. How did it feel, and what did you learn about yourself and others during that experience?
Anticipatory Set
- Start by closing your eyes for a moment and think about a place that feels like home to you. Picture the colors, sounds, and feelings that make it special.
- Now, imagine you are in a new place, different from your home. What do you see, hear, and feel? How might you find comfort and belonging there?
- Turn to a partner and share one thing you imagined about adapting to a new place. Listen carefully to your partner's story and think about what you have in common.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to use descriptive language when sharing their thoughts. Prompt them with questions like, 'What does it sound like?' or 'How does it make you feel?' to deepen their sensory engagement.
- Create a safe space for sharing by modeling vulnerability and openness. Share a brief personal adaptation story to set the tone.
- Use a talking object to ensure everyone gets a turn and feels heard. Emphasize listening as a key part of connecting with others.
Learn
Today, we're going to read 'Dreamers' by Yuyi Morales, a beautifully illustrated story about an immigrant mother and her child navigating a new world. As we journey with them, let's consider how storytelling and shared experiences can help us find hope and belonging in unfamiliar places.
Interactive Engagement
- As we read, notice the illustrations and think about what the colors and symbols might represent. How do they make you feel about the journey the characters are on?
- When the mother and child explore the library, consider how this place might symbolize something important in their new life. What could a library represent for someone in a new country?
- Pause and reflect on a moment in the story where the characters face a challenge. How do you think they feel, and what would you do in their situation?
- As the story unfolds, think about how the characters' experiences might connect to people in our own community. Can you think of any real-life examples where people had to adapt and find belonging?
- Towards the end of the book, ponder how the act of storytelling helps the characters. Why might sharing stories be powerful in building a sense of community?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to visualize the story by pausing at key moments to discuss the illustrations and their symbolic meanings.
- Foster inclusive participation by inviting students to share personal connections or reflections in small groups before discussing as a class.
- Allow time for students to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, supporting them to use evidence from the text to justify their interpretations.
Ask
Now that we've journeyed through 'Dreamers', let's take a moment to reflect on the powerful ways personal stories can connect us across different backgrounds. Think about the emotions and symbols we encountered and how they might relate to your own experiences.
Discussion Questions
- Reflect on a moment in the story where you felt a strong connection to the characters' experiences. How did this moment make you feel, and why do you think it resonated with you?
- Consider the symbolism of the library in 'Dreamers'. How might this place represent hope and belonging, not only for the mother and child in the story, but also for people in our community?
- Think about a time when someone shared a personal story with you that helped you understand them better. How did this sharing change your perspective or feelings towards them?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings openly, reminding them that there are no right or wrong answers. This will help build a supportive environment for deep reflection.
- Guide the discussion by connecting students' reflections to broader themes of empathy and understanding. Encourage them to consider how personal stories can bridge differences.
- Invite students to think about how they can use storytelling in their own lives to foster connections and empathy with others. Encourage them to see storytelling as a powerful tool for building community.
Navigate
Creating Symbolic Welcome Murals
In this activity, students will create symbolic murals that represent welcoming and belonging. Inspired by the themes of 'Dreamers', students will work in groups to design a mural for newcomers, using symbols that convey resilience, hope, and community. This activity mirrors the journey in the book, emphasizing the importance of empathy and shared stories.
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Teacher Tips
- Provide examples of common symbols and discuss their meanings to inspire students.
- Encourage students to think about their own experiences of feeling welcomed or out of place.
- Facilitate discussions on how art and symbols can communicate powerful messages beyond words.
Share
As we wrap up our exploration of 'Dreamers,' let's take a moment to reflect on our Follow the story. Think about how the symbolism in the book helped us understand the experiences of the characters and how this connects to our own lives. Consider how your insights and feelings have grown and how you might carry this learning forward.
Reflection Questions
- Reflect on a symbol from 'Dreamers' that stood out to you. How did it help you understand the characters' journey or your own experiences?
- Think about a moment in the story where you felt a strong connection. How did this moment impact your understanding of adapting and belonging?
- Consider how you can use the lessons learned from 'Dreamers' to connect with people from different backgrounds in your own life. What is one action you can take?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to express their thoughts in a journal entry or through a creative drawing that symbolizes their reflection.
- Facilitate a circle discussion where each student can share one insight they gained, ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
- Provide an opportunity for students to pair up and share their reflections, fostering a supportive space for deeper connections.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Provide visual examples of murals from different cultures that focus on themes of welcome and belonging, using a digital slideshow or printed images. This caters to visual learners and provides context.
- Offer audio narratives of 'Dreamers' and other immigrant stories, accompanied by text, to support auditory and visual learners in understanding the themes of resilience and hope.
- Create a tactile experience by allowing students to handle various art materials and textures before beginning their mural, helping kinesthetic learners engage with the concept of symbolism through touch.
- Use graphic organizers to help students plan their murals, identifying and connecting symbols with their meanings and themes from 'Dreamers'.
Action & Expression
- Allow students to express their understanding by creating a digital version of their mural using design software, for those who prefer working with technology.
- Enable students to write a short narrative or poem explaining the symbolism in their mural, supporting those who express ideas best through writing.
- Provide opportunities for students to present their murals and explain their symbolism through a verbal presentation or a recorded video, accommodating different comfort levels with public speaking.
- Encourage the use of a reflective journal where students can document their thought process and the evolution of their ideas, providing a personal space for expression.
Engagement
- Begin with a discussion on personal or historical stories of migration and belonging, encouraging students to relate these stories to their own experiences.
- Provide options for students to choose symbols that resonate with them personally, thus fostering a connection to the project and enhancing motivation.
- Incorporate collaborative brainstorming sessions where students can share ideas and provide feedback, promoting a sense of ownership and camaraderie.
- Offer breaks with short, related creative activities, like designing a 'welcome symbol' on a personal scale, to maintain energy and focus throughout the mural creation process.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- During the group mural design phase, observe how students discuss and select symbols. Look for active participation, cultural references, and the integration of diverse perspectives. Ask questions to prompt deeper thinking, such as 'What does this symbol represent in the context of welcoming newcomers?' and 'How can your mural convey a sense of belonging?'.
- Conduct one-on-one check-ins with students to discuss their choice of symbols and their meanings. Assess their ability to articulate the connection between these symbols and the themes of empathy and community from 'Dreamers'. Questions may include 'How does your mural reflect themes from the book?' and 'Why did you choose these particular symbols?'.
Summative Assessment
- Evaluate each group's presentation of their mural by assessing how well they explain the symbolism and its connection to the themes of empathy and community. Look for clarity in explaining the artwork's significance and its potential impact on newcomers. Allow for various presentation formats to accommodate different communication styles.
- Require students to write a reflective journal entry about their mural project experience. Assess their ability to connect personal insights with the themes of empathy and community, and how their mural's symbols relate to those in 'Dreamers'. Offer alternatives like oral or video reflections to support diverse expression preferences.
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