Global Read Aloud is one of my favourite learning activities! I love seeing students explore rich literature and connect with other students to share their perspectives. As the Literacy with ICT Teacher Leader for my school division, I support teachers with technology-integration, so the Global Read Aloud provides an awesome opportunity to leverage technology to make connections with classes in other places.
I read the Duncan Tonatiuh picture books this summer. There are so many deep lessons that can be inpsired by these books and I would suggest they can easily be used with all ages. As I read each book, I jotted down ideas for activities and discussion, primarly focused on elementary learners. Feel free to use any of these questions/prompts for discussions or activities in your class or with your partner classrooms! I like posting a question or prompt on Padlet or Flipgrid each week to keep the connection going between partner classrooms, but many of the prompts would also work for in-class discussion or video calls.
Week 1: Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
What new words did you hear in this story? Find out what they mean and create a visual dictionary.
How would you describe the place you live? What would you tell others about it.
Activities:
Explore your own community or neighborhood. Take pictures and write about what makes your city or town special
Write a letter or postcard to someone in another place. Tell them about your community and ask questions about theirs.
Create a venn diagram to compare communities.
Week 2: The Princess & The Warrior
Activities:
Listen for interesting vocabulary in this story. Find out what the words mean.
Read other legends. What do they have in common with this one? What is different?
Research more about volcanoes. Share what you find out.
Find the two mountains on a map and research them to learn more.
Week 3: Feathered Serpent & The Five Suns
Feathered Serpent had to overcome many challenges to reach his destination. Explain a time when you had to do something challenging. Tell us about your strategies or skills to get through challenges.
Week 4: Separate is Never Equal
Slyvia had a right to go to school. What rights and responsibilities do you have in your community?
Week 5: Diego Rivera: His World & Ours
Diego learned different forms of art. In what ways do you create art? Tell us about it or show us some of your artwork.
Create a mural with your class. Find examples of Diego Rivera’s art and use it for inspiration for your design.
Create your own piece of art that shows something about your community or daily life.
Share 3 things you learned about Diego Rivera from this story.
Week 6: Your Choice of Book
Soldier for Equality
How does Luz help and serve others? How can we help and serve others?
Research a human rights activist and share their story.
Compare this story to Separate is Never Equal. What is the same about Sylvia and Luz? What is different about them?
Pancho Rabbit & The Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale
Learn more about immigration where you live. Share what you learned.
What are some of the obstacles and challenges that Pancho Rabbit faces?
Retell the story including the important ideas from the beginning, middle and end. You could retell orally, with pictures, in writing or with a comic strip.
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