Miss Pedagogy: 2012

Black History Month is less than two weeks away. My plans as an elementary school teacher would be to present black history in a new innovative way. In a way I never remembered it presented in the classroom.

If I were in Baltimore I would plan a field trip to the National Blacks in Wax Museum. There are many exhibitions to chose from and children are fascinated by the realistic construction of the wax figures. The sound and lighting will intrigue the kinesthetic learner. There will be an up close and personal black history lesson that no child will ever forget.

For those teachers that teach in the New York/New Jersey area I advise a day trip to The Studio Museum in Harlem to study famous artists such as Romare Bearden or Henry Tanner.

If a field trip is not feasible these lesson ideas and read alouds are fabulous for Pre-K to 2nd grade.

Learn how peanuts grow with a lesson from George Washington Carver!
You will need (supermarket/organic grocery store)raw peanuts, a damp towel and a zip lock bag.
Each child gets two raw peanuts each and together the class will watch peanuts grow. Create a question and answer chart. 100 questions to ask George Washington Carver the peanut butter man.
"Make your own peanut butter lesson"
You will need:
Measuring spoons, measuring cup, blender, plastic knives,
crackers, small bowls, small plates and napkins.
Ingredients:
Unsalted peanuts
1 1/2 to 3 tablespoons corn oil to 1 cup peanuts
1/2 teaspoon salt for each cup of peanuts

Children can shell the peanuts and measure the ingredients as the teacher places the contents into the blender.

Then have a peanut butter and jelly fest ( make sure all children are allergy free; if some are provide a healthy substitute) large glasses of milk included!

Add the age old "Peanut butter and Jelly Song and the Merriment Begins!"

Peanut Butter
Peanut , peanut butter,   (Whisper "Jelly")
Peanut, peanut butter,    (Whisper "Jelly")
First you take the peanut and you smash 'em,
you smash 'em.
You smash 'em, smash 'em, smash 'em
(imitate smashing peanuts)
Then you take the peanut butter and you
spread it, you spread it.
You spread it, spread it, spread it.
(imitate spreading peanut butter) Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly")
Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly")
Then you take the grapes and you squish 'em,
You squish 'em, you squish 'em, squish 'em
   squish 'em.
(imitate squishing)
And then you take the jelly and you spread it.
You spread it, you spread it, spread it,
spread it.
(imitate spreading)
Peanut, peanut butter. (Whisper "Jelly")
Peanut, peanut butter, (Whisper "Jelly")
Then you put the bread together and you cut it,
You cut it, you cut it, cut it, cut it.
(imitate cutting).

Character Development is positively included and recommended through the teacher; "I think Melissa needs a cup as well, Rebecca what should we do?" Have children solve their own courtesies. Mention how Dr. Martin Luther King wouldn't want us to leave any one out. We all are a family and we have to give out kindness so that everyone will be happy.

For girls, a Trip to the Hair Salon with Madam CJ Walker will allow students to style their dolls hair with rollers and a spray bottle. This lesson can be a math lesson as children come up with a price chart for services. Money exchange will be an interactive lesson instead of being a simple worksheet lesson. Boys can be active participants as well. But it shouldn't be forced if they don't want to!

Awesome Read Alouds

Henry's Freedom Box : A True Story from the Underground Railroad
by Ellen Levine, Illustrations by Kadir Nelson

White Socks Only
By Evelyn Coleman Illustrated by Tyrone Geter

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky

Written & Illustrated by Faith Ringold

Remember Black History is not just limited to African American History but the fight for equality and I believe with creative and intelligent leadership children can provide a bigger voice than any adult can.

Dare to Dream