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October
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Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting text in that the lines between genres are blurred. The book can be classified as an informational text, because it explicitly teaches the rights that the United Nations laid out in 1948. Yet the texts that accompany the laws are quite poetic at times. The 7th right, "Everyone has the right to be treated equally before the law," is accompanied by a powerful quote from a fourteen year old. The child metaphorically compares the "hate" and discrimination that exists in society as walls of entrapment. I would use this excerpt in our poetry unit, probably with our "Strong Feelings" lesson or possibly with our "In the News/ World Issues" lesson. The figurative language, powerful message, poetic language, AND the fact that it was written by someone so young make it a strong model for our students to consider.
I also LOVE the pictures, and feel that they are filled with symbolism. I would like to use them, possibly with literature circles, to show students how pictures can be symbolic rather than literal. I also love that the pictures represent the diversity of the people to which these rights pertain. They portray people of all different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, religions, sexes, sexual preferences, etc.
Hmm... the rights that the United Nations (UN) created make me wonder in the sense of multicultural literature. We can assume that these rights are meant to represent and respect all nations that are part of the UN. Right number 16, addresses marriage: "Every adult has the right to marry and have a family, but nobody can force you to get married. In marriage, both partners are equal." I suppose a lot of this is open to interpretation, since there are still many places on the United States in which same sex marriage is still not legal. I think these rights are well intentioned, and come from a group of idealists, but I don't think we are truly there yet. This would be an interesting topic for students to debate. Of course, you would have to choose age-appropriate rights for the level of your students.
I enjoyed this powerful book and clearly feel it has a lot to offer from a teaching standpoint!
-Lauren :)
In this informational book on human rights the forward written by the former president of Ireland and former UN Comissioner for Human Rights Founder President, Mary Robinson talks about what freedom means. She also gives websites to visit so that the students reading the book can get more information to further their reading.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom I would used this book to introduce students to their freedom rights. Each of the rights are layed out individually and are numbered so each day I could read aloud one of the rights to the students during morning meeting perhaps. I think this book would be perfect for upper elementary, middle, and high school students at the beginning of the school year when classrooms are writing their set of classroom rules together. In order for students to think about the rules they want in their classroom it would be important for them to know their rights as human beings. As far as the format of the book goes, I liked how the book was laid out so that young people were offering quotes or poems about each of the rights. For example, for right number 1 (All humans are born free with the same dignity and rights) a thirteen year old wrote, "Some people only see skin deep, but there is so much more to a person than the color of their skin. Why would you hurt me just because I'm diffferent? Just because I don't like look like you? Nobody has the right to mistreat mea just because I don't look, think, or act like you. When will this world learn that everyone was created equal? If everyone loks, thinks, and acts exactly the same? Imagine what a world would be. But all I'm asking for is that you sow me some respect, even if you don't think I deserve it." - Kathryn Buonantony-
Afterwards, I would have the students in my class add their own quotes, or poetry to one of the rights and I would have a bulletin board of their writing. On the bulletin board of their rights writing I would post our new set of class rules or rights.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea to connect this book to classroom rules. I would also like to connect it to our new social studies curriculum. We are now responsible for teaching our 5th graders about how the first Americans formed their new government. This book would be a great way to introduce the 5th graders to their basic rights as human beings. I think it would actually be interesting to give the students a chance to develop their own "bill of rights" before showing them the actual rights that our country's founding fathers developed. It would be interesting to see what they view as fair and important. They are already so much more progressive, as they view all races and sexes as equal (at least I certainly hope), unlike our narrow minded founding fathers ;)!
Getting excited about Social Studies!!
-Lauren :)
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI think this informational book is extremely important because it is based on the 38 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which pertains to every student in our classrooms. I know it is important for kids to feel connected to the text in order to enjoy reading a book. How can someone not enjoy a book that directly pertains to them and the rights they have? I also feel that the 38 UN Rights can be confusing to learn and know so this book seems to break down the all 38 rights in a way that is understandable. The photographs in this book are extremely important to helping students to understand their rights. The illustrations shed a new light on each of the students rights and why they are so important. Without the photographs I do not think the message behind each right would hit home as directly as the message does with the photograph. For example, the first right of the declaration states, "All human beings are born free with the same dignity and rights." The right is paired up with a poem written by an 18 year old girl writing from Mother Earth to her children. The photograph accompanying the poem is of the 18 year old girl holding a 2 week old baby. This photograph is very powerful because it reminds students that despite this new born babies tiny nature it's life is a very big part of Earth and it was born with rights and freedoms equal to everyone else already alive and living their lives on Earth. I think that sometimes children feel so tiny and they feel as though they do not have rights because there are so many rules and directives given to them in school and at home. This book teaches them that they too have rights even as young children. I think this book is perfect for fifth graders in helping them to understand their rights in the world. What do you think about the age appropriateness to the book? Also, do you think the photographs are important to helping readers understand each of the rights in the declaration?
Heather