Domain:
Language & Communication
Competency:
Communicate to inform, persuade, or inspire
🎂
7-9 year olds
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25 to 30 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Students will identify and describe how Hattie Peck's actions demonstrate family and belonging, connecting these themes to their own experiences of acceptance and love.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'Hattie Peck' by Emma Levey, Hattie is a determined hen who dreams of being a mother despite being unable to lay eggs herself. Undeterred, she embarks on an adventurous journey to gather abandoned eggs from various parts of the world. Her travels take her to the deepest oceans, high mountains, and dark caves, where she collects a diverse assortment of eggs. Upon returning home, Hattie nurtures these eggs with care, and eventually, they hatch into a variety of creatures. Through her unwavering love and dedication, Hattie forms a unique family, illustrating that family is about love rather than biological ties.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Family Book | Written by Todd Parr, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | This colorful book celebrates the diversity of families and emphasizes that love is what makes a family, aligning with the themes of acceptance and belonging. |
| All Are Welcome | Written by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman, published by Knopf Books for Young Readers | This story depicts a day in a diverse school where every child is welcomed and valued, reinforcing the idea of belonging and inclusion. |
| A Family Is a Family Is a Family | Written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Qin Leng, published by Groundwood Books | Through the voices of children, this book explores different family structures and highlights that love and care are the core of any family. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Determined | Having a strong feeling that you are going to do something, even if it is difficult. | Hattie was determined to find eggs, showing she wouldn't give up on her dream of having a family. |
| Belonging | Feeling happy and comfortable in a group or place because you are accepted and loved. | The baby animals felt a sense of belonging with Hattie because she cared for them like a real family. |
| Nurture | To care for and help something or someone grow and be healthy. | Hattie nurtured the eggs by keeping them warm and safe until they hatched. |
| Perseverance | Continuing to try to do something even when it is difficult. | Hattie's perseverance on her journey showed her strong will to gather all the eggs. |
| Acceptance | Being welcomed and valued, no matter who you are or where you come from. | Hattie showed acceptance by loving all the different creatures that hatched from the eggs. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "How can showing love and care in different ways help us feel like we belong to a family?"
Today, we're going to explore how showing love and care can help us feel like we belong to a family. Let's think about how families come in all shapes and sizes, and what matters most is the love and care we show each other.
Anticipatory Set
- Begin by asking students to close their eyes and think of a time when someone showed them love or care. Invite them to focus on how that made them feel and picture the moment clearly in their mind.
- Next, present a small nest filled with a variety of colorful, different-sized eggs (real or crafted). Encourage students to observe the nest closely, considering how each egg is unique but together they form a special collection.
- Invite students to share a time when they felt like they belonged to a family or group, and what acts of love or care helped them feel that way. Use a talking object to facilitate sharing, ensuring each student has a chance to speak if they'd like.
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to express their feelings using descriptive language, offering sentence starters if needed (e.G., 'I felt cared for when..', 'Being with my family makes me feel..').
- Ensure all students feel comfortable sharing by creating an atmosphere of respect and kindness, gently guiding discussions and affirming each contribution.
- Use visual aids like the nest and eggs to help students connect abstract ideas of love and belonging to concrete images they can touch and see.
Learn
Today, we're going on an exciting journey with Hattie Peck, a determined hen created by Emma Levey. As you listen, think about how Hattie's love and determination help her build a unique family.
Interactive Engagement
- As Hattie begins her journey, what do you think keeps her going, even when the path is tough?
- Pause and look at the different types of eggs Hattie finds. What do you notice about them? How might each one be special to her?
- When Hattie finally brings all the eggs back home, how do you think she feels? Why might this moment be important to her?
- As the eggs begin to hatch, observe the different creatures that come out. How do you think Hattie feels seeing her new family come to life?
- Think about a time when you did something kind for someone else. How is that similar to what Hattie is doing for the eggs?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their thoughts with a partner during story pauses, fostering a sense of collaboration and deeper thinking.
- Use expressive voices and gestures for different characters to help students visualize and engage more deeply with the story.
- Highlight the story's structure by briefly summarizing key events at natural pauses, helping students track the sequence of Hattie's journey.
Ask
Now that we've journeyed with Hattie Peck, let's take a moment to think about the special ways she showed love and care to build her family. How can these actions help us understand the importance of belonging and acceptance?
Discussion Questions
- Think about a time when you helped someone or made them feel special. How did that make you feel, and how is it similar to what Hattie did for her eggs?
- Hattie showed love in many different ways to her new family. What are some ways you can show love and care to your family or friends, even if they look or act differently from you?
- Imagine you are one of the creatures that hatched from Hattie's eggs. How would you feel being part of Hattie's family? What does this story teach us about being a family?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their reflections with a partner first, which can help them organize their thoughts before sharing with the whole group.
- Create a safe and respectful environment by reminding students that everyone's experiences and stories are valuable and unique.
- Use visual aids, like drawing or acting out a scene, to help students express their ideas about belonging and family.
Navigate
Family Tree of Belonging
This activity helps children explore the themes of family and belonging by creating a 'Family Tree of Belonging' that reflects the diverse ways love and care create unique family bonds, inspired by Hattie Peck's journey of forming her family.
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Teacher Tips
- Encourage creativity by allowing children to use drawings or symbols that are meaningful to them.
- Facilitate discussions by asking questions like, 'How do these actions show love?' and 'What makes you feel accepted in your family?'.
- Provide examples if children are struggling to think of ideas, such as sharing toys, helping with chores, or offering hugs.
Share
As we wrap up our journey with Hattie Peck, let's take a moment to reflect on what we've learned about love, family, and belonging. Think about how Hattie's actions have shown us that family can come in all shapes and sizes, and how her love created a special place where everyone belongs.
Reflection Questions
- What is one thing you learned from Hattie's story that you can use to show love and care in your own life?
- How did reading about Hattie's journey make you feel? Can you think of a time when you felt like you belonged because someone showed you love and care?
- Imagine you are part of Hattie's family. What would you do to make others feel welcome and loved like Hattie did?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to pair up and share their thoughts with a partner before discussing as a whole group. This can help them organize their ideas.
- Allow students to choose whether they want to share verbally, through drawing, or by writing a short note. This gives them the freedom to express their reflections in a way that feels comfortable.
- Highlight and celebrate the different ways students connect with the story and each other, emphasizing that there is no single right way to show love and care.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Utilize visual aids by showing pictures or a short video clip of diverse families, including scenes from Hattie Peck's story, to highlight how different family bonds are formed.
- Incorporate auditory elements by reading a passage from Hattie Peck aloud, emphasizing the parts where she shows love and care, and discuss how these actions create family bonds.
- Provide tactile experiences by having children use different textured materials (like felt or foam) to create leaves for their 'Family Tree of Belonging,' allowing them to physically construct their representations of family.
Action & Expression
- Facilitate verbal expression by having children explain the meaning behind their leaves and animals when presenting their 'Family Tree of Belonging' to the class, encouraging them to articulate their understanding of family and belonging.
- Encourage artistic expression by providing a variety of art supplies (markers, crayons, stickers) so children can creatively express their ideas of family through drawing or decorating their trees.
- Support physical expression through a group activity where children can act out scenes from Hattie Peck's journey, or create their own skits about family and belonging, catering to those who enjoy kinesthetic learning.
Engagement
- Capture initial attention with a group discussion about what makes someone feel like they belong to a family, using questions that encourage personal reflection and connection to Hattie Peck's story.
- Maintain engagement by allowing children to work in small groups to foster a collaborative environment where they can share ideas and support each other's creativity in building their trees.
- Offer choice by letting children decide how they want to decorate their leaves or what animals they want to include on their tree, catering to different interests and creative preferences.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- Observe students as they discuss what makes someone part of a family during the initial exploration phase. Look for their ability to articulate diverse family connections and examples of love and care beyond biological ties.
- Monitor group interactions as children create their 'Family Tree of Belonging.' Look for collaborative efforts, inclusivity in representing diverse family structures, and the ability to connect ideas from Hattie Peck's story to their own experiences.
- Listen to group discussions as children explain why specific actions make them feel like they belong. Assess their understanding of belonging and family through their explanations and examples.
Summative Assessment
- Have students individually write or draw a reflection on how their 'Family Tree of Belonging' represents acceptance and love. Look for connections to Hattie Peck's story and personal experiences of belonging.
- Facilitate a class presentation where each group shares their 'Family Tree of Belonging.' Evaluate their ability to articulate how the tree represents family and the diverse ways love and care create bonds, drawing parallels to Hattie Peck's journey.
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