https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju There are many different kinds of parents with dynamic relationships. Some children have one parent, and others have many. Parent dynamics include same-sex parents, step parents, adoption, separated parents, and even death of a parent. This does not change the meaning of family, or the love a parent has for their child. en-us 2016-08-07 16:52:26 UTC 2016-08-07 23:03:49 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Babyhead.png michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660352 Karen Katz
This fiction text is based on the author's experience with being adopted internationally. It has many bright illustrations that help tell the story similar to a fairy-tale. Have students identify the feelings of the expecting parents in this book. Do you think this is similar or different than parents who have a child in the traditional sense? ]]> 2016-08-07 16:55:46 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660352 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660470 Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
This fiction text is a story about two penguins "adopt" a baby penguin. Even though they created their family in a different way, they still share the same meaning of family. Students will identify three animals that they want to find out how their families are made. ]]> 2016-08-07 17:00:43 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660470 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660546 George Anne Clay 
This fiction text is told in the context of a young cub who does not have a dad. The mother lion had used a donor to create her family. It shows the strong meaning of family in this dynamic. Students will compare and contrast the family structure in order to identify that they share the same meaning of family, even though it was created differently. ]]> 2016-08-07 17:05:03 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660546 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660794 Melanie Ann Apel
This non-fiction text explains what it is like to live with a single dad as a parent. It uses real photographs and talks about how to confront confusing emotions. Have students discuss the advice the book suggests and come up with their own advice. ]]> 2016-08-07 17:20:28 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660794 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660868 Leslea Newman and Laura Cornell
This fiction picture book is about a young girl who has two mothers. It compares it to how Heather has two of everything, even mommies! Heather shares a picture of her family. The message of the story is that all families are different, but they all love each other the same. Have students draw a picture of their parents and share with a classmate. Discussion questions: do you think Heather feels left out at school? What would you say to a bully that might hurt Heather's feelings for having two mothers?]]> 2016-08-07 17:24:25 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660868 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660914 Mary Hoffman and Ros Asquith 
This fiction text discusses many different ways parents come together and have a child. It uses a graphic format of writing to tell the story, focusing on pictures to tell most of the story. Have students identify with on of the characters in the text. ]]> 2016-08-07 17:28:12 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117660914 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665030 Students will develop questions about animal families after reading And Tango Makes Three. They will watch the following video clip from thekidsshouldseethis.com about a baby otter learning how to swim from its mother. They can research, directed by the teacher, the family structure in otters and compare it their own lives. Have students share something their parent, or parents, taught them to do. ]]> 2016-08-07 21:14:52 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665030 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665839 Eve Bunting 
This is a fiction story book about a young girl, Laura, who is upset about her dad marrying a new woman after her mother died. She has a "memory string" made of her mothers buttons that represent different memories she has with her. Have students create their own memory string for a person in their family and share their memories. ]]> 2016-08-07 21:38:48 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665839 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665968 Karen Katz
This fiction story book covers mixed racial families. A young girl notices that she is a different color from her mother and other people. The book talks about having different skin tones makes each one of us special, but all connected at the same time. Students can create their own simile, My skin is like ____, it is _____" ]]> 2016-08-07 21:41:45 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117665968 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117666403 Elaine Aoki
This fiction text is about international adoption. It tells the story of different families who travels to China to adopt four baby girls. Have students discuss the similarities of the different families and their journey. Make text to text connections with Over the Moon. ]]> 2016-08-07 21:52:02 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117666403 michelleblaw https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117667318 Have students watch this short documentary that tells the perspective from a kid with same sex parents. It includes short clips from popular news media outlets with political opinions, and laws regarding same sex marriage. Have discussion questions: What are the laws in the United States about same sex marriage? Are marriage laws fair? Does same sex parents change the meaning of family? Have students create their own video; a PSA about bullying or discriminating against different types of parents. ]]> 2016-08-07 22:23:49 UTC https://padlet.com/michelleblaw/d5xxv8qirbju/wish/117667318