Reading and Writing for Social Awareness

Society is a community, nation, or broad grouping of people with common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests.  In class, we will be reading, writing, reflecting on, and discussing many social issues and problems in our society. These could be issues that affect you or other people in society; they could relate to family, school, your neighborhood, other countries, etc.

Essential Questions:

·         What are some social issues or problems in the world that you care about?

·         Who or what inspires us to change the world for the better?

·         How can we make a positive difference in the world?

·         What and how does literature teach about society and the world?

·         How can writing increase social awareness and effect change in the world?

Skills and tasks students will be able to do:

·         Analyze and write about social issues in picture books and other texts

·         Write a picture book on a meaningful social issue

Vocabulary – fill in what you know about each word:

Justice	Fairness
National	International
Bystander	Upstander
Social action	Witness
Tolerance

In-Class Activity

1.        In your notebook, answer this question: What are some problems in our society and the world overall that you would like to see changed?

2.       Graffiti board: each person takes turns adding to our board; you can include words, questions, statements, or illustrations.

3.       Group activity: Choose 1 issue from the board and write a poem or short, dramatic scene to express: 1. what the problem is; and 2. how it affects people. Make your project detailed and clear. Afterward, you will present (2-4 minutes).

Homework:  Read newspapers, magazines, books, or watch documentaries or other visual media. Read, annotate, and bring in 1 text that addresses social problems you care about and/or focuses on a person or group that makes a positive difference and inspires you to be a better person and make the world a better place. Create a synthesis page on a separate sheet of paper to show what it makes you think, feel, and know, and why you chose it.