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Children come from families with varying characteristics. This makes a wonderful opportunity to explore what a family is, how it can look different and how love binds the members of the family together. Through this unit the teacher hopes to make children who are not from "traditional" households feel more comfortable and confident about theirs. This unit is age appropriate for kindergartners and will last for three weeks. The unit covers areas of early childhood literacy such as: reading, writing, social studies and art.

Kick-off Activity:

We will start our Thematic Unit with a “Family Finger Play” associated to a traditional poem “Fine Family”.

Here is the family,

Some are young,

And some are old,

Some are tall,

Some are small,

Some are growing just like me.

Together we live as a family.

(We will hold up one finger for each line, starting with the thumb).

After the “Family Finger Play” we will establish a KWL chart to determine what the children know about families, what they want to know and what they will learn at the end of the unit. Because of their limited prior knowledge, children often presume that all families are the same as their own. This unit will expose them to similarities and differences in other families, identifying attributes in themselves and others, which make each person and family special and unique. As an outcome at the end of this unit it is expected that children be more respectful and accepting of others.

Big Ideas: The main ideas that the teacher want students to remember are:

1.  There are many different types of families. The activities in this unit will help students understand the similarities and differences in families and identify attributes in themselves and others.

2.  All family members love one another and are bound together by love. Children will have to understand that a family is made up of people who love you and take care of you. They will have to understand also that all members of the family are important and they give them a strong sense of belonging.

Picture Books

1. “Who’s in a family” by Robert Skutch, illustrations by Laura Nienhaus.

This non-fictional book begins by presenting a traditional nuclear family and then moves readers from one family configuration to the next, from single children to single parents to same-sex couples. Here and there animal families are juxtaposed with the human, to show that certain situations are natural, comparisons that may reassure young children. For example, it explains that the mama chimp raises the babies by herself, with the help of any older children she may have and eldest female is in charge in elephant families. One double-page spread shows a grandmother caring for her two grandsons while their mother is at work. The book presents also multicultural contemporary family, mixed raced couples, grandparents and divorced parents. At the end the author question the reader: Who’s in a family? And answers: “The people who love you the most”.

Vocabulary words:

papa (spanish word for dad), mama (spanish word for mom), camping, jigsaw puzzle.

Art activity: The last page of the book is a place for children to draw a picture of their family. Copies in full colors and crayon pencils will be given to each child to draw their family.

2. “The Runaway Bunny” by Margaret Wise Brown, Pictures by Clement Hurd.

The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away: "If you run away,' said his mother, 'I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.” And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. No matter how many forms the little bunny takes --a fish in a stream, a crocus in a hidden garden, a rock on a mountain -- his steadfast, adoring, protective mother finds a way of retrieving him. The soothing rhythm of the bunny banter, along with the dream-like pictures infuse young readers with a complete sense of security and peace.

Vocabulary words: Trout stream, Tightrope, Flying trapeze, Crocus

Art activity: The children will construct a mommy and a little bunny mask and will play  out the story in pairs adding their own imagination. For example, the little bunny may decide to go to the moon and the other player had to decide what the mother can be to reach him (in this case an astronaut). Children may also play the bunny’s game of hide-and-seek where the mother finds him every time.

Materials needed:

•  Two plain, white paper plates (different sizes to make the mother and the little bunny)
•  Construction paper (each child will chose his preferred color)
•  Scissors
•  Stapler
•  Crayons, markers, or paint
•  Small pompom for the nose
•  Elastic

Procedure:

Making the rabbit's ears:

•   Cut a circle from the construction paper (it should be the same size as the inside of a paper plate); then glue the paper circle to the center of a paper plate.

•   Cut the paper plate in half (the two halves will be the rabbit's ears).

Making the rabbit's face:

•   Using a new paper plate, cut a wedge (about 1/4 of the plate) out of the paper plate (the large part of the plate will be the rabbit's face).

•   Staple the ears to the face.

•   Cut two eye holes in the face

•    Glue a small pompom to the center of the face (this is the rabbit's nose).

•   Staple a piece of elastic (about a foot long) to the mask to keep it in place. Draw whiskers and decorate the mask with crayons, markers, or paint.

3. “Staying with grandma” by Eileen Roe, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

This book is a lively description of the joys of a child visiting Grandma's house when mommy and daddy are away. The child describes all the fun activities that he has with his grandma such as: catching frogs, picking vegetables from the garden, shelling peas for supper, walking with grandma to watch the sunset, watching the fireflies across the yard, listening to grandma’s bedtime stories etc.

Word vocabulary:Lawn sprinkler, Shelling, Fireflies.

Art Activity: Children will construct a garden pop up card for the grandmother (or relative) and do a collage with letters cut out of magazines to write “I love you grandma”.

Materials needed:

•   Various colors of construction paper

•   Scissors

•   Glue

•   Markers or crayons

Procedure:

•   Fold two rectangular pieces of construction paper in half. One piece will be the outside of the card and one piece will be the inside.

•   On the piece that will be the inside, cut two short lines near the middle of the fold.

•   Fold the two outside flaps that you just made (but do not fold the middle flap). Unfold the flaps.

•   Open the card. Push the two flaps towards the inside of the card they will form 2 step-like protuberances.

•   Refold the card. Cut two short lines through the folded flaps on the sides.

•   Fold the outside flaps that you just made. Unfold the flaps.

•   Open the card. Push the two flaps towards the inside of the card, they will form 4 step-like protuberances.

•   Cut some small flowers, stems and leaves from construction paper. Decorate them with crayons or markers. Glue the flowers to the flaps. Make sure that the flowers do not stick out of the card when the card is closed. Glue the card to the other piece of folded construction paper. To make sure that you do not glue the flaps down, apply the glue only to the inside of the card and then carefully place it on the outer card.

•   Make a collage with letters cut of the magazines to form the message “ I love you grandma” on the lovely garden pop-up card. For children who do not have a grandmother the garden can be dedicated to a grandfather, a parent or a relative.

4. What Are Parents? by Kyme and Susan Fox-Lee

This book is beautifully illustrated and uses playfully rhyming words to lead an infant to a journey through a birthday hospital wondering "What are Parents"?. Her search for the answer begins as she starts down the hallway to find the answer. Each room she passes reveals a different type of family. Each family teaches the baby the meaning of the word parent: someone who loves, teaches, sings, laughs, has faith and are devoted to their children. This book teaches children that there are all types of families in this world; including families created by adoption, single parents and families with two mommies or two daddies. The book concludes with a poem of Susan Fox-Lee about love.

Vocabulary words: Cradling, lullaby, giggles, dandelions

Art activity: Children will have to cut out people shapes and animals (dog, cat) to make their families. They will punch holes in their hands to link them up, will decorate them and will write on them mom, dad, brother, sister etc. They can also write the letters to form the word “Love” to link them.

Materials needed:

Construction paper where people shapes are designed

Scissors

Hole punch

Markers and crayons

5. “Families are different” written and illustrated by Nina Pellegrini.

This book is inspired by feelings expressed by one of two adopted daughters of Nina Pellegrini. The book's characters are two daughters from Korea and their two white parents. One of the girls, Nico doesn't like to look different from her adoptive parents, her mother assures her that, indeed, there are all kinds of families, "glued together with a special kind of glue called love." Thus follows some of the many variations of modern-day families, featuring a multiracial mix of both traditional and nontraditional groupings. Single and adoptive parents, grandparent guardians, and step-relatives all receive equal attention. The book conveys a clear message of the need for accepting differences among lifestyles and stress that "family" is a bond created more by love and concern among its members than by biological relationships.

Vocabulary words: 

Bonkers, slurpy

Art activity: Each child will make a simple family tree and learn about family's heritage.

Materials needed:

•   Sky blue, brown and green construction paper

•   Crayons, tempera paint, or markers

•   Scissors

•   Glue stick

Procedure: Children will have the model to cut a large tree with many branches. They will cut out leaves from the green construction paper or use leaf rubbings that the teacher cuts out.

Each leaf will represent a person in the child's family and should be big enough to write that person's name on the leaf. They will cut enough leaves for each of the child's siblings, parents, and grandparents (or more!).

Children will write the name of each person on their leaf. The teacher and the teacher’s assistant will help them sound out the names. They might want to include the relative's relationship, like "Grandma Nancy", or the names of the pets. Optional: Children will bring their family tree at home to be completed by pictures.

Poems

A Family Finger play

This is a family    (hold up one hand, fingers spread)

Let's count them and see, 

How many there are,

And who they can be    (count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

This is the mother    (touch pointer finger)

Who loves everyone

And this is the father   (touch big finger)

Who is lots of fun.

This is my sister    (touch ring finger)

She helps and she plays,

And this is the baby    (touch little finger)

He's growing each day.

But who is this one?   (touch thumb)

He's out there alone,

Why it's Jackie, the dog,

And he's chewing a bone.  (wiggle thumb).

Phonics activities: With a word finder the children will have to find the rhyming words like: see and be; alone and bone. Children will have to find other words that rhymes with the words they found. They will have to find also how many words begin with the ‘f’ sound (family, father, fun).

Grandmas and Grandpas

Grandmas and Grandpas are everything nice.

Like presents and candy and raspberry ice.

And chocolate fudge sundaes, with cherries on top.

And popcorn and peanuts and grape soda pop.

In winter or summer, in rain or in sun,

Grandmas and Grandpas are wonderful fun!

Phonics activity: With a word finder children will have to come and find rhyming words such as: nice and ice; top and pop; sun and fun. Children will have to find other words that rhymes with the words they found.

Writing activities

Writing Center: Students will create an individual 4-6 page predictable pattern book “I love my _____.” The teacher will help them to sound out words by also showing word cards with picture clues for them to use to write. Students will also illustrate the picture to go along with the text.

Class book: Each student creates one page to put in a class book. The page is “I like to_____ with my family.” Children will try to spell out the words (with help if needed), write and illustrate the page. The class book can then be used for the book center.

Assessment

During all the activities the teacher will observe the interactions of the children to see if they are making family connections, if they have a positive attitude toward family differences and if they demonstrate social skills. To asses children’s understanding the teacher will ask them questions like "Are all of our families the same? Why do we have families?” and will take note of their answers.

During writing activities the teacher will evaluate concepts, such as beginning sounds, ending sounds, capitals and lowercase letters, or spaces in between words, etc.