A guide for using our resources

Children will meet Justice Swann, a boy who helped design a sneaker worn by a basketball star.

Vocabulary: designed, WNBA, canvas, logo

Social Studies Focus: Autism Awareness Month

Social and Life Skills: social awareness

  1. Watch a Video:

    It's Art!

     

  2. Read the Issue:

    Smiley Sneakers!

     

  3. Play a Game:
    Hoop, Hoop, Hooray!

    Skill: punctuation

     

  4. Complete Skill Sheets 

    Reading Checkpoint

    Skill: reading comprehension

     

    Text Feature Hunt

    Skill: nonfiction text features

     

    Sneaker Hunt!

    Skill: vowel sounds

     

  5. Lesson Boosters 

  • Paired Text Suggestion: My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

     

  • Phonics Focus: Consonant Blends

     

  • Hands-on Activity:
    Design a Sneaker

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 ask and answer questions; RI.1.4 determine meaning of words; RI.1.5 text features; RI.1.10 read informational texts; RF.1.1 punctuation; RF.1.2 vowels; W.1.8 gather information; SL.1.1 participate in collaborative conversations

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Paired Text Suggestion: My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete

  • Follow up Justice's story with a true story written from the perspective of a sister sharing her appreciation, challenges, love, and amazing bond with her brother, Charlie, who has autism.

Phonics Focus: Consonant Blends

  • Give students a sound and have them identify which two consonants make that blend. Write down the letters where students can see. Then have them look for a word that begins with that consonant blend.
  • Blends to use:
    • /dr/ drawing, drew
    • /sm/ smiley
    • /sn/ sneakers
    • /bl/ blank
    • /pl/ plays
    • /fr/ friends
    • /cr/ crowd

Hands-On Activity: Design a Sneaker

Skill: self-awareness, fine-motor

Materials: Design a Sneaker skill sheet, pencils, crayons

  • Students will plan and illustrate their very own sneaker design, just like Justice!
  • Provide each student with a Design a Sneaker skill sheet. Encourage students to plan their design by answering the questions. Allow time for students to write down their ideas.
  • Then students can get to work adding colors, shapes, and pictures to their sneakers.
  • When students are done, have a sneaker fashion show! Volunteers can take turns sharing their design with the class.