Young children have a keen awareness of what is fair. Statements like, “she got more ice cream than me!” or “I should get to stay up as late as he does!” signify their observations of and disdain for how people are treated differently. Educators can bring content into the classroom that capitalizes on this predilection for justice. The trade book Speak Up (2020) written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Ebony Greenby takes students through a collection of relatable scenarios that offer opportunities for children to “speak up” to make things better. In this K-1 inquiry, we use the trade book to consider the compelling question, “When should I speak up?” Students learn how fictional children speak up in the story and then learn the stories of actual child activists who have spoken up in big ways. Students then apply this learning to their lives and decide, as a class, how to speak up about a school problem.
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About the inquiry
Compelling Question
When Should I Speak Up?
Staging Question
Show an image of a child “speaking up.” Ask students what they see, think, and wonder. Create a class chart.
1
Supporting QuestionWhat are ways to speak up?
Formative TasksCreate a captioned drawing that shows an example of someone from the book speaking up.
SourcesSpeak Up, 2020, Written by Miranda Paul , Illustrated by Ebony Green
2
Supporting QuestionHow have children spoken up?
Formative TasksDraw a picture of a person from the gallery walk. Write one sentence explaining how they spoke up.
SourcesSource A: Gallery Walk Images
Summative Performance Task
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Taking Informed Action
Understand: Create a list of problems that students face at the school.
Assess: Choose one and decide how to help.
Act: Create an action plan including a rationale/argument for what the problem is and why you should speak up.