rd

3 Grade Diversity Lesson Plan

Book: Across the Alley

Written By: Richard Michelson

Published: October 5, 2006

Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3rd grade

Lesson Plan By: Kacie Gottenborg

Date: 6/21/2018
Multicultural Themes

 Racism

 Overcoming prejudices

Education Standard

 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2

Students are able to recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures;

determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in

the text.

Objectives

1. The students will be able to illustrate awareness and acceptance of their classmate’s cultures in the

course of creating watercolor portraits of themselves and writing down their favorite hobbies directly

beneath their own portrait with 95% accuracy.

2. The students will be able to discuss the moral of the story and formulate generalized questions for a

whole group discussion about race and equality while reflecting on their own personal goals for the

future in relation to the lesson plan with 90% accuracy.

Materials

 The book Across the Alley by Richard Michelson; white sheets of construction paper; watercolor paint
(in various colors); small paint brushes; paper plates (to put the paint on); cups of water (to clean the
brushes); paper towels (for mistakes or messes); pencils/colored pencils (to write down their hobbies and
add more color to their portraits); tape (to display portraits around the classroom) and lined sheets of
paper (to write future goals on).

Procedure

1. Introduce: Present the book Across the Alley by Richard Michelson to the entire class. Then say,
“Today we are going to discuss the importance of acceptance. Did you know sometimes people refuse to
accept others because of the color of their skin? But, many different races and cultures make up the
United States so choosing to accept others is very important. Imagine if I enjoyed playing soccer but I
 refused to join the soccer team just because there were people who were not white or people who
dressed differently than me. Wouldn’t that be ridiculous?!”
2. Read: Teacher reads the book aloud to the entire class.
3. Discuss: Students will discuss the book as a whole group.
 Question 1: Why are Willie and Abe only friends at night?
 Question 2: Why does grandpa believe that Jewish kids shouldn’t waste time on baseball?
 Question 3: What ended up being some similarities between Willie’s family and Abe’s family?
 Question 4: How does the book Across the Alley end? Why?
 Question 5: The phrase “Ignorance comes in as many colors as talent” is said in the book. What do
you think this phrase means? Is it an important phrase?

Activities

1. Students will actively work individually on creating a portrait of themselves using the watercolor paints

provided to them. They will use the white construction paper to construct their portraits on, paint

brushes to paint with, and colored pencils for more fine lines and added color if needed. After finishing

their portraits, students will reflect on their hobbies and write them down directly beneath their pictures.

The primary goal of students reflecting on their hobbies and writing them down is for student

comparison. Students will learn that even culturally diverse people enjoy doing the same things, so we

should not judge someone on the basis of their culture or the color of their skin. (Hands-on).

2. Students will have a whole group discussion about race and acceptance. They will compare hobbies,

examine each other’s portraits, and the teacher will elaborate on the importance of equality. Students

will utilize what they learned in the book and in the class discussion and hopefully come to the

conclusion that even though someone is a different race, they may still enjoy the same things in life that

they do, resulting in acceptance of diversity. At the end of the discussion, the teacher will instruct

students to take out their own sheets of paper and write down some goals they have for the future that

relates to the diversity lesson. (Teacher will use tape to display the portraits around the classroom).

Evaluation

 Teacher checks students’ goals for accuracy in relation to the lesson (goals should be regarding

something like societal change, how they will make the world a more peaceful place, etc.).