This lesson helps second graders understand why their voice is important in the classroom by exploring The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. Through reading and discussion, students reflect on how sharing their unique stories fosters connection and inclusion. They participate in a creative activity to express their individuality by drawing or writing about something special about themselves. Through building empathy, celebrating diversity, and encouraging them to recognize the importance of their contributions to a positive classroom environment, students recognize the importance of voice.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
How can I make my voice heard?
Standards
D2.Civ.10.K-2: Compare their own point of view with others to understand the importance of diverse voices.
Instructional Snapshot
Class begins by gathering students for a reading exercise. Students are asked to think about a time when they felt shy, afraid, or worried about speaking up, either in class, with friends, or in their community. Students consider why they felt hesitant to speak up. After allowing for a moment to think, students volunteer to turn and talk to partners and share their perspectives.
After students share for a few moments, students may be invited to share aloud to the group. The teacher then explains that today students will be learning about why everyone’s voice is important. As the class reads “The Day You Begin” aloud, students fill out a graphic organizer as they consider thought-provoking questions: How does Angelina feel on her first day? Why is she scared to share about her summer? What happens when she finally speaks up? How did the characters feel before they shared their stories? How did sharing their stories change how they felt? The teacher may choose to create an anchor chart divided into two parts with the titles Our voices matter because…, and How can I make my voice Heard? Students then share and reflect on ideas given the conversation from the reading to fill in both halves. Finally, students create a set of speech bubbles to share their voices regarding something they would like to express. Students add to the graphic organizer or use the “My Voice Matters” handout to craft a more thorough response to the compelling question.
Formative Tasks
COLLABORATE: Participate in a class-guided discussion about the importance of our voice.
DELIBERATE: Brainstorm reasons why it is often difficult to speak up and how we can overcome it.
PRODUCE: Compose a series of speech bubbles that highlight students’ voices.
Sources
Source A: Jacqueline Woodson, The Day You Begin, Bookmarks
Summative Performance Task
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Taking Informed Action
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