This document provides a list of literature and activities for a multi-cultural literature portfolio. It includes 18 sections covering different genres, topics, and age/grade levels. For each entry, it lists the title, author, publisher, and a brief summary, and proposes a related classroom activity for students. The genres covered include picture books, fiction, and non-fiction. The topics covered include the elderly, family, gender and sexuality, religion, race, geography, socioeconomics, and more. The suggested activities include writing assignments, discussions, and presentations related to understanding different cultures and perspectives.
2. Age – Picture Book Berry, J. (2010). I love Grandmas and Grandpas . New York, NY: Joy Berry Books. Appropriate for 9 th grade A young child discusses why he loves his grandparents. Activity – Students will write at least 3 paragraphs describing a memory of their grandparents, older relative or community member.
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4. Age - Fiction Babbit, N. (2007). Tuck Everlasting . Portland, OR: Squarefish. Appropriate for grades 9-12 A story about a family that drinks from a spring that allows them to stay young and a young girl who finds out their secret. Activity – Students will write at least paragraphs discussing if they would drink from a fountain that would allow them to stay eternally young. They will list reasons for and against drinking the water.
5. Gender and Sexuality – Picture Book Zolotow, C. (1972) William's Doll . New York, NY: HarperCollins. Appropriate for grades 9-12 Tells story of a little boy who wants a doll and his father who is not comfortable with the idea and thinks dolls are for girls. Activity – Students will orally discuss what is a “girl's” toy and what is a “boy's” toy and why society feel that way. They will also give their opinions including arguments for their reasons.
6. Gender and Sexuality - Fiction Garden, N. (2007). Annie on My Mind. New York, NY:Farrar, Straus and Giroux . Appropriate for grades 11-12 The story of two teenage girls involved in a romantic relationship. Connection to Diversity – Students will be able to see the similarities that these two young homosexual girls have to them and their romantic feelings toward the opposite sex. Those that may be sexually confused may be able to see themselves in the characters and see it's not a “bad” thing.
7. Gender and Sexuality - Non-Fiction Mastoon, A. (2001). The Shared Heart. New York, NY: HarperTeen. Appropriate for grades 10-11 Tells stories about different Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Teens. Activity – Students will research and write summary of at least 2 paragraphs or give presentation of at least 1 minute of a Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual person who has made a difference in society.
8. Multi-Cultural Schools – Picture Book Coles, R. (2010) The Story of Ruby Bridges . New York, NY: Scholastic. Appropriate for grades 9-12 Tells the true story of a six-year-old girl who was the first Black student to attend a Whites only school in New Orleans in 1960. Activity – Students will write at least two paragraphs detailing how Ruby felt that day and the positive things that would come out of her integrating the school.
9. Multi-Cultural School - Non-Fiction Morrison, T. (2004 ). Remember: The Journey to School Integration. Boston, MA: Houthton Mifflin Books for Children. Appropriate for 9 th grade Tells the story of racial integration in schools mostly in pictures. Activity – Students will chose 3 pictures and write at least 5 sentences or one paragraph describing what was happening in the picture including emotions the parties are experiencing.
10. Multi-Cultural Schools - Fiction Alexi, S. (2009). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian . New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Appropriate for grades 9-12 Junior a Native American teenager leaves his troubled reservation school to attend an all-White school and encounters cultural difficulties. Activity – Students will write at least four paragraphs discussing their “take-aways” from the novel. What did they learn? What surprised them? What do they think the message(s) are?
