Students will be given prompts to help guide their entry into a Reflection Journal as a part of a larger unit. In the unit, students will have read a book from the text set, and engaged in conversation with their peers about what they learned from the book. Their entry in the Reflection Journal will be a formative assessment. This activity is meant for students in grade 6

1. Prompts

   1. In your own words, describe what prejudice is. Share a prejudice you hold against someone/ a group. Why do you think you feel that way? Has your opinion changed?

   2. In your own words, describe what prejudice is. What is an example from history where prejudice happens? How did it impact people's lives?

   3. In your own words, describe what prejudice is. If you are comfortable, share a time when you experienced prejudice in your own life. How did it make you feel?

An Equal Shot: how the law title IX changed America by Helaine Becker

1. Historical background on the fight against prejudice. Title IX prohibits discrimination due to sex and gender in educational settings. People today still use Title IX to combat prejudice in their lives

2. Becker, H. (2021). An Equal Shot: How the Law Title IX Changed America. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR). 

Let me play: the story of Title IX : the law that changed the future of girls in America by Karen Blumenthal

1. This text covers the sports segregation that girls have historically faced, how people fought against it, and the structures that were developed to prevent continued prejudice. 

 How do you spell unfair? : MacNolia Cox and the national spelling bee by Carole Boston Somerville 

1. MacNolia Cox faces racism and prejudice as she attempts to participate in the national spelling bee, which she is invited to due to her talent for spelling. She must persevere against unfair treatment. 

Be a bridge by Irene Latham 

1.  This text shows students ways they can recognize the mistreatment of others and extend their hand to be a positive change in the world. 

2. Jones, A. T., Latham, I., Waters, C., Adani, N., & Gallucci, M. H. (2022). Be a bridge. Dreamscape Media, LLC.

That is my dream! By Langston Hughes

1. A young boy faces racial prejudice in his life, but hopes for a better path with peace and love.   

2. Hughes, L., & Miyares, D. (2017). That is my dream!: A picture book of Langston Hughes's "Dream variation". Schwartz & Wade Books

Troll stinks by Jeanne Willis

1.  Young goats participate in cyber bullying after hearing their grandfather's prejudice. Shows how people develop prejudices, and how it impacts those they are attacking. 

2. The APA citation for "Troll Stinks" by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross is: Willis, J., & Ross, T. (2017). Troll stinks. Andersen Press USA.

Bea Breaks Barriers!: How Florence Beatrice Price’s Music Triumphed Over Prejudice by Caitlin DeLems

1. Classical musician Bea must fight racial and sex based prejudice in school and university. She uses the music she grew up with to create new and meaningful music, becoming a celebrated American Composer.  

2. DeLems, C., & Engel, T. (2024). Bea Breaks Barriers!: How Florence Beatrice Price's Music Triumphed Over Prejudice. Astra Publishing House

The brothers ZZli by Alex Cousseau

1.  A family of bears, a bat, and a young girl face prejudice from their neighbors. Because the neighborhood does not understand them, the family is harassed and must find a new place to call home. 

2. Cousseau, A., (2023). The brothers Zzli. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. 

 You are not alone by Kaitlin McGaw

1.  Encourages children to be who they are, to fight against those who wish them harm and unfair conditions, and reminds people that even when it feels hopeless, they are not alone in the world.

2. McGaw, K., Shepherd, T., & Evans, A. (2021). You are not alone. Sourcebooks eXplore.

 Ritu weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar

1.  Ritu and Chandni experience homophobia from family and community members, their younger cousin stands up to the prejudice in hopes of saving the wedding. 

The Secret Rhino Society by Jonathan Jacobs

1.  A group of rhino enthusiasts (a hippo, a worm, and a lightbulb) must face their preconceived perception about how a rhino behaves and feels, and learn to appreciate others for who they are. 

2. Jacobs, J., (2020). The Secret Rhino Society. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson 

1.  Two aliens from different backgrounds fall in love and teach their communities compassion and the value of diversity. 

2. Donaldson, J., & Scheffler, A. (2020). The Smeds and the Smoos. First edition. Scholastic Press.

Beauty Woke by NoNieqa Ramos

1.  Through prejudice and discrimination, Beauty forgets what makes her unique and loses hope. She must wake up and recognize her individuality so she can relearn to love herself and her heritage.

That Monster on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmidt

1. Monster must face his prejudices towards his new neighbor, who he immediately dislikes and tries to outcast. 

2. Ganz-Schmidt, S. (2020). That Monster on the Block. Two Lions

Private Beach : no platypuses allowed by Sophie Lescaut

1. Due to segregation, a platypus family struggles to find a beach where they are allowed to be themselves and enjoy their day. The prejudice of beach owners prevents the platypus family from equal enjoyment of a summer's day. 

 Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes: A Cautionary Tale of Race and Brutality by Stephan Bloom

1.  An age appropriate account of the Jane Elliot eye color social experiment. An easy to understand social model of discrimination due to unnecessary prejudice. 

2. Bloom, S. (2021). Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes: A Cautionary Tale of Race and Brutality. University of California Press

 A New Friend (The Adventures of Sophie Mouse #1) by Poppy Green

1. Sophie Mouse learns to love people for who they are and stop judging others on preconceived notions. She befriends the new student, a snake, despite her initial fear of him 

2. Green, P. (2015). A New Friend (The Adventures of Sophie Mouse 1). Little Simon 

Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper 

1.  Melody, who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and feels disconnected from her family and classmates who think she isn’t smart because of her disability. Melody is determined to show others that their prejudices aren’t substantiated in anything, and that she is more than they expect. 

2. Draper, S. M. (2013). Out of my mind. Atheneum Books for Young Readers

 Imagine a wolf by Lucky Platt 

1.  Walk kids through their own biases/prejudices by letting them describe their image of a wolf. They find out that this wolf isn't what they assume, and their prejudice hurts his feelings

2. Platt, W. (2021). Imagine a wolf. Page Street Kids

 Something Happened in our Town: a child's story about racial injustice by Marianne Celano

1.  The tragic story of children witnessing the aftermath of police brutality in their community. Shows how to have hard discussions about racial biases and how these events create waves even in the youngest of us.

2. Celano, M. (2018).  Something Happened in our Town: a child's story about racial injustice. Magnition Press

On the Playground : our first talk about prejudice by Jillian Roberts

1.  An introductory text on recognizing prejudice, where it comes from, why it hurts people, and how to work against it. 

2. Roberts, J., & Heinrichs, J. (2019). On the playground: Our first talk about prejudice. Orca Book Publishers.

Talking about prejudice by Louise Spilsbury 

1.  This text gives scenarios with two sides, allowing for children to assess a situation from multiple angles, and decide what they believe the best reaction is. Allows kids to work through concepts of prejudice in a space where they can ask questions and take time to think. 

2. Spilsbury, L. (2023). Talking about prejudice. Powerkids Press

 We rise, we resist, we raise our voices by Wade Hudson

1.  An anthology of essays, poetry, essays, and other pieces of art to show how people are already working to fight prejudice in the world, and express how it has made them feel. 

2. Hudson, W., Hudson, C. W., & Bryan, A. (2018). We rise, we resist, we raise our voices. First edition. Crown Books for Young Readers.

This is your brain on stereotypes : how science is tackling unconscious bias by Tonya Lloyd Kyi

1.  Shows children the scientific reasons behind why bias’ develop in our minds, and the ways we can work against holding prejudices that cause people harm

2. Kyi, T. L., Shannon, D., Stokes, J., & Keenan, K. (2020). This is your brain on stereotypes: how science is tackling unconscious bias. Kids Can Press.

 Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer 

1.  Magnus Chase faces prejudice due to his unhoused status. He is harassed by the police, housed people, and other unhoused people due to his status. Later books in the series deal with prejudices against characters because of their race, heritage, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. 

2. Riordan, R. (2015). Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer. Puffin Books.