Students will be exposed to literature that illustrates the concept that natural and human characteristics can be expressions of cultural uniqueness. This book also illustrates that although we have differences, we are also very similar. Dwelling on differences can cause unnecessary conflict.

The learner will:

• identify and describe the behaviors of the characters.
  
  
• explain why physical differences do not affect one's personal worth/value.
  
  
• ·state one benefit of treating others with respect.

Anticipatory Set:

Ask the students to look around the room at how they are different from each other. Ask students to move to opposite sides of the room based on the characteristics you name. Each time the class sorts, count the groups and record the numbers on the chalkboard. Name attributes such as black hair and not black hair, oldest child in the family, rode bike to school today, ate cereal for breakfast, wearing jeans, etc. Ask the students whether these attributes make them better or worse than the people around them. Discuss whether these attributes make a difference in their importance to the classroom, family, or community. Tell the students that you are going to read a book in which these kinds of differences really do matter to the community. Let's see how they deal with differences in the book, The Sneetches.

• Read the book to the class. Use your finger to run under the line being read and to point to key picture items.
  
  
• On selected pages, stop and encourage the children to interact with the book in the following ways:
  
  
  • Identify key items in the picture that will aid in listening comprehension.
    
    
  • Hypothesize about what may happen next, what the motives of characters might be, and why something is happening.
    
    
  • Label the feelings of the characters.
    
    
• Students will consider if physical differences should make a difference in how people are treated. Brainstorm a list of physical differences, such as hair color, skin color, length of hair, wearing glasses, using a wheelchair, shape of eyes, etc.
  
  
• Brainstorm a list of things children like to do for fun. Ask each student to choose one of the activities and draw a picture of two children doing that activity. The two children should look as different as possible physically (using attributes from the list above) from each other, but the pictures should show them playing together.
  
  
• Introduce and define the words prejudice and acceptance. Discuss why it is important to not allow any form of prejudice in the classroom or any community. What damage could it do? What are the benefits of treating everyone with fairness and respect?
  
  
• Discuss the importance of respect for others. Have students give examples of how children will act toward one another if they have respect for each other. Ask each student to write or illustrate a benefit of acceptance and treating others with respect.

Literature Connection: Read a book to the class about an important, diverse community figure such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Read a book about a child with a physical challenge. Discuss the contributions of people who do great things in difficult circumstances. Discuss how people are sometimes prejudged based on their appearance and then surprise the people who judged them.

Math Connection: Choose any two unrelated attributes from the chalkboard listed during the anticipatory set. Make a life-size Venn diagram. Use two long pieces of yarn to form overlapping circles. Label each circle with an attribute and have the students sort themselves. Some students will fit in the intersection and some will have to stand outside both circles.

Art Connection: Students create two sets of unique creatures of their own, like the Sneetches. Have the students give them names that include the attribute that makes them wonderfully unique. (They should draw them living in harmony.)

Social Studies Connection: Discuss the characteristics of the place where the Sneetches live. How is the place they live influenced by the Sneetches? How are the Sneetches affected by the place they live? Think about how you interact with the place you live.