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Global Themes• ImagesandPerception• SocialJustice

International Literacy Day September 8

Overview and PurposeThis lesson is designed to teach children about InternationalLiteracyDayandthespecificrightofchildren highlighted by this UN Day; their right to a goodqualityeducation(CRCArticle28).

Background Information for TeachersUnitedNationsInternationalLiteracyDayun.org/depts/dhl/literacy/index.htmlUNESCOunesco.org/en/literacy/advocacy/international-literacy-day/

GradesK – 3

MaterialsBook entitled A School Like MinebyUNICEF,DKPublishingASchoolDayLikeMineworksheet(printablecopyattached)

Activity One

•BeginbyintroducingSeptember8thasInternationalLiteracyDay;aUNDaycelebratedto remember the importance of literacy around the world. Define literacy as the ability to read and write with understanding a simple statement related to one’s daily life. Itinvolvesacontinuumofreadingandwritingskills,andoftenalsoincludesbasicarithmeticskills.(UNESCOdefinitionforEducationforAll2000Assessment)

•Discusseverychild’srighttoagoodqualityeducation(CRCArticle28).Itisabasichumanrightandnotaprivilege.Itisestimatedthatover100millionchildrenarenotinschooltoday.Agoodqualitybasiceducationgivesstudentstheliteracyskillstheyneedforlifeand further learning.

•PresentthebookentitledA School Like Mine, featuring children just like them and the different schools they attend all over the world.

•Turntopage6,showingthemapandthephotosofallthechildrenincludedinthebook.Forthislesson,thestudentswillgettoknowfiveofthesechildren.

•Readaloudthefollowingpagesfromthebook,andengagethestudentsindiscussionabout the differences and similarities between the children in the book and themselves.

Page22:LukasifromCanada Page61:ReenafromIndia Page62:XinpeifromChina Page66:HassafromMongolia Page76:GapirrifromAustralia

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Activity Two

•DistributeoneASchoolDayLikeMinebooktemplatetoeachstudentandinvitethestudentstowriteanddesigntheirownschooldaystoriestocelebrateInternationalLiteracyDay.SimilartothebookA School Like Mine, they will each create an original versionofASchoolDayLikeMine.

ExtensionHave the students share their books as part of a literacy awareness campaign.

Additional ResourcesA School Like Mine: A Unique Celebration of Schools around the World Teacher’s Guide by DK Publishingkiddk.com/static/html/parentteacher/images/SchoolLikeMineTG.pdfCelebrateInternationalLiteracyDay!ReadWriteThinkreadwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/celebrate-international-literacy-20584.htmlIdeaStarters:InternationalLiteracyDayInternationalReadingAssociationreading.org/Libraries/Association_documents/2010_IDEA_STARTERS.sflb.ashx

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A School Day Like Mine

By:

STUDENT HANDOUT

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About Me

STUDENT HANDOUT

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Getting Ready for School

STUDENT HANDOUT

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Classroom Activities

STUDENT HANDOUT

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Meals and Playtime

STUDENT HANDOUT

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Homework and After-School Fun

STUDENT HANDOUT