Classroom Lesson using "Oliver Button is a Sissy" 3-4 (K-2)

[djsamwise]

Conflict Resolution & Diversity, Oliver Button

Standards/Benchmarks: A:A1.9, A:A3.1, A:A3.5, A:B1.7; C:A1.4; C:A2.5; PS:A1.9 PS:A2.1

Grade Levels: 3 - 5, (adaptable for K-2)

Time: 35 - 45 min

Materials: “Oliver Button is a Sissy” by Tomie dePaola. A pencil and paper for each group. (K-2 crayons and paper for each student)

It was a great thing to see. A president had been set that being mean to somone based on "color" was unacceptable. The teacher was able to build off the lesson because the students bought into it and were able to refer to it.

Peace.


Warm up: Tell students that you will be reading a book about teasing and that even if it is a book for younger children, big kid questions will be asked about it.

Read “Oliver Button is a Sissy” out loud to the class.

Have students split into diverse groups of 4 (5 if necessary).

Each group should pick a writer, multiple thinkers and a reporter. If any disagreement arises encourage students to solve the problem by voting or randomly (such as drawing straws).

Writers are to write the answers down for the group. Reporters will read them to the whole class. Thinkers will come up with the answers and tell the others what to write and say.

Lesson : Ask the groups the following questions:

1. What made the kids call Oliver names?
2. What made them realize that being different can be cool?
3. What is one thing that makes each individual in the group different? (List at least one talent, ability or achievement for each group member.)
4. What is good about being different?

Closure: The reporters may go to the front of the class. A student may be selected as the interviewer and ask each reporter what they found, one question at a time for the whole class to hear. If time permits, after all students are seated again, generate a discussion on what can be done when someone is getting teased.

Assessment: Students should be able to demonstrate content comprehension by what was presented by their group and also through monitoring group discussions as they were answering the questions.

Comments: The group activity focus should be on assisting students in solving conflicts among the group. Help them assess the problem and come up with solutions themselves rather than solve the problem as a teacher. Consider coming up with a classroom way of resolving disputes such as classroom vote or flipping a special coin.

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I used a simmilar lesson in K-1 when a teacher came to me upset that students were using negative racial language and forming cliques based on racial differences. For these little ones we took out the group aspect and asked all the questions to the entire group as they were seated on the carpet. Assitionally I added some loaded questions such as "do people ever get teased for being a different color?".  You can really taylor the discussion on this book to fit whatever diversity issue you are having.
After the discussion, the students were sent back to their seats and each one was asked to draw a picture of them being kind to someone who is different. The girl that the teacher was having the most problems with drew a picture of herself playing nicely with a girl of a different color.