This year, we have designed our curriculum to center around concepts. The overarching year-long concept is empathy. The nine weeks’ concepts include identity, awareness, belonging, and community. This novel would be taught in the unit focusing on community. It would be one of three texts for students to choose to read in book club groups.
We feel this book is important to this unit because it exemplifies many different types of communities, like family, school, neighborhood, and culture. Themes of Starfish center around what it means to fit in and feel like you belong within each of these communities.
Starfish offers a unique perspective on something that happens daily for many children and even adults - fitting in. It is a fresh take on being a kid that is different, that does not fit into a cookie cutter expectation - something all students can relate to feeling.
In particular, the main character's conflict is her struggle with a positive body image. In the United States, 9% of the population, or 28.8 million people, will have an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Eating disorders are also the 2nd most damaging mental illnesses. People with eating disorders are more at risk for self-harm. The main character's ability to build a positive image of herself and to defend herself from bullies without becoming one highlights strong, powerful behaviors we want to see in our students.
This unit is a culmination of their learning throughout the year. The students will independently run a Book Club with their group using questioning and discussion skills. By the end of the unit, students will produce a PSA of a need in their community and create a possible solution.
About my class
This year, we have designed our curriculum to center around concepts. The overarching year-long concept is empathy. The nine weeks’ concepts include identity, awareness, belonging, and community. This novel would be taught in the unit focusing on community. It would be one of three texts for students to choose to read in book club groups.
We feel this book is important to this unit because it exemplifies many different types of communities, like family, school, neighborhood, and culture. Themes of Starfish center around what it means to fit in and feel like you belong within each of these communities.
Starfish offers a unique perspective on something that happens daily for many children and even adults - fitting in. It is a fresh take on being a kid that is different, that does not fit into a cookie cutter expectation - something all students can relate to feeling.
In particular, the main character's conflict is her struggle with a positive body image. In the United States, 9% of the population, or 28.8 million people, will have an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Eating disorders are also the 2nd most damaging mental illnesses. People with eating disorders are more at risk for self-harm. The main character's ability to build a positive image of herself and to defend herself from bullies without becoming one highlights strong, powerful behaviors we want to see in our students.
This unit is a culmination of their learning throughout the year. The students will independently run a Book Club with their group using questioning and discussion skills. By the end of the unit, students will produce a PSA of a need in their community and create a possible solution.
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