Young Readers’ Books By Indigenous Peoples Around the World (Upper Elementary)
Analyze children’s book covers for messages about Indigenous authors’ perspectives and about the purpose and design of book covers.
Grade Levels
Upper Elementary School
Objectives
Students will compare how authors tell stories of relationships between people and their environment.
Students will consider the purpose and design of book covers.
Students will reflect on Indigenous perspectives on the environment.
Media Included
Guiding Questions
[Objective] Students will compare how authors tell stories of relationships between people and their environment.
What are the messages in this book cover about the way people interact with their environments?
What do they want you to do, think or feel?
Do you see any patterns or similarities in how these authors view the world?
(Culminating Question)
[Objective] Students will consider the purpose and design of book covers.
What age group is this for? How can you tell?
What is the purpose of a book cover?
What do I notice about the illustration and the wording of the title?
Which of these books would you pick and why? (Culminating Question)
[Objective] Students will reflect on Indigenous perspectives on the environment.
Do you think that Indigenous authors might have a different perspective on the natural world than
non-indigenous authors? Why?
Do you think all Indigenous authors share the same perspective?
What questions do you have about Indigenous people worldwide? (Culminating Question)
Follow up Evidence Questions & Comments
Where do you see that?
Say more about that
How do you know that?
What makes you say that?
Does anyone have a different idea?
*This lesson was created in collaboration with Project Look Sharp.