Julian Is a Mermaid is a picture book celebrating the value of self-expression and holding up respect for individuality. The literature guide below provides activities and discussion questions about this simple story and brings awareness to the power of love and the beauty of people expressing themselves as they are.
This book supports loving discussions related to LGBTQ identity.
Learners explore personal identity traits and discuss how a community is strengthened by similarities and differences among them. They each write a biographical poem using the provided template and their discussion notes.
One of the ways we identify ourselves is through the culture of our gender identity. This may include our gender and how we express ourselves through our clothing, hair, and what we like to do and who we like to spend time with.
Young people learn what it is like to be a refugee through pictures, video, and stories. They build empathy and do an activity that simulates choices refugees must make.
After reading about historical figures who have taken philanthropic action related to justice, youth write a narrative about a more recent (young) philanthropist who took action for social justice.
As a group, the young people and their families make all the preparations for the lemonade sale, including making posters and advertising in creative ways. The posters communicate about the purpose for the sale and the impact they hope to make.
The group discusses and agrees on a need to address through donating money. They watch a film about a boy who sets up a lemonade stand and read a book about a national Lemonade Stand effort. Then they identify a need, learn more, and communicate the need to others.
Learners compare the meaning of justice with fairness and distinguish the meanings of fair, just, equal, and equitable. They write a definition for each term and display it on the wall for the duration of the unit.
This lesson explores the language of disability and the importance of asking people about themselves with curiosity rather than treating disabilities as taboo. We learn to use people-first language.
Young people explore demographics and definitions to better understand some of the disabilities of their peers. They discuss how we can support one another's unique expressions of self.
