Turning on Learning

With a wealth of ready-to-use lesson plans for grade levels K-12 covering a variety of subject areas, "Turning on Learning, Fifth Edition" shows students how to apply the principles of multicultural education in the classroom. This practical, lesson-based companion to Sleeter and Grant’s "Making Choices for Multicultural Education:Five Approaches to Race, Class and Gender" features additional lesson plans and new resource material, along with updates of existing lesson plans.

Chapter 1 What Turns Your Students On? 1

Concerns and Challenges 7

The Plan of the Book 8

The Organizational Plan 9

References 10

Chapter 2 Teaching the Exceptional and Culturally Different 11

Bridges to the Curriculum 12

Expectations for High-Level Learning 12

Learning Styles 13

Relevant Curriculum 15

Skill Levels 15

Language 16

Success Stories 17

Relationships With Students 17

Connections With the Home and Community 18

Action Research Activity 2.1 18

Learning Styles 18

Action Research Activity 2.2 20

Students’ Experiential Background 20

Action Research Activity 2.3 20

Dialect Difference 20

Action Research Activity 2.4 22

Interpersonal Communication Style 22

Lesson Plans

Our Grandparents Will Always Be Special, Grades K–1, Social Science, Literature, and English Language Development 23

Sentences, Subjects, and Predicates, Grades 2–4, Language Arts 28

The Importance of Math to Everyday Life, Grades 4–8, Mathematics 32

Scientific Problem Solving, Grades 5–8, Science 35

A Cultural Human Being Presentation, Grades 5–12, Computers, Social Studies 37

PC 40

New Presentation 40

MAC 40

Project Gallery 40

Lesson Plans

Word Usage, Grades 6–12, Language Arts 42

Mong History, Grades 8–12, Social Studies 46

Writing a Five-Paragraph Essay, Grades 9–12, Intermediate levels of ESL 50

Functions, Grades 9–12, Algebra 55

Polymers, Grades 11–12, Chemistry 58

Cardiovascular Health, Grades 10–12, Health 62

References 65

Chapter 3 Human Relations 66

Primary Concerns of the Human Relations Approach to Teaching 67

Cooperative Learning 67

Attitudes, Prejudice, and Stereotyping 68

Personal Feelings 69

Individual Uniqueness and Worth 70

Cross-Group Communication 71

Action Research Activity 3.1 71

Stereotyping 71

Action Research Activity 3.2 74

Sociometric Survey 74

Action Research Activity 3.3 74

Name-Calling 74

Action Research Activity 3.4 76

Sex Stereotyping 76

Lesson Plans

Paper Flowers, Grades 1–3, Art 78

Toys, Grades 1–3, Mathematics 80

Global Cooperation, Grades 3–4, Social Studies 83

The Life Cycle, Grades 3–4, Science 86

Bones and Muscles, Grades 3–5, Health 88

Westward Ho!, Grades 4–6, Social Studies 91

Billboards and T-Shirts, Grades 4–9, Language Arts, Art 94

Luminescence or Incandescence?, Grades 5–10, Physical Science 96

Class Meetings, Grades 1–8, Social Studies 103

Introductions and Stereotypes, Grades 7–12, Social Studies/Humanities 106

Quintessentially Me, Grades 4–8, Language Arts 110

Finding Symmetry, Grades 9–11, Math 112

Solving Two Equations With Two Unknowns, Grades 9–12, Algebra 115

Factoring Polynomials and Making Friends at the Same Time, Grades 11–12, Mathematics 118

References 123

Chapter 4 Single-Group Studies 124

Perspective 125

History 126

Culture 127

Current Social Agenda 127

Issues of Particular Concern 128

Action Research Activity 4.1 128

Textbook Analysis 128

Lesson Plans

Story Writing & Story Quilt, Grades 3–5, Language Arts 133

Immigrants & Immigrants and Refugees, Grades 4–6, Social Studies 136

American Indians in Our State and American Indians and Institutional Racism, Grades 5–8, Interdisciplinary (Social Studies, Art, Language Arts) 140

Wheelchair Basketball & Wheelchair Sports, Grades 5–8, Physical Education 144

Pioneers and Women and the Westward Movement, Grades 6–8, Social Studies 147

Poster Design and Disability Awareness and Poster Design and the Voice of People with Disabilities, Grades 8–12, Art 150

Back Home During World War II and Japanese Americans—U.S. Citizens, Grades 7–12, Social Studies 154

Unit Plan: Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues 156

Lesson Plans

The Legacies of the African American Civil Rights Movement, Grades 9–12, U.S. History 158

Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgenders, Grades 9–12, Social Studies, Health, Human Sexuality 161

Using Science to Investigate Maternal Instinct, Grades 9–12, Biology 166

Identifying Themes in Literature, and Culture in Native American Literature 9–12, English 168

Mexican American Labor in the United States, Grades 10–12, Social Studies 174

Reference 176

Chapter 5 Multicultural Education 177

Meeting the Goals of the Multicultural Education Approach 178

Curriculum Materials 178

Curriculum Content 179

Multiple Perspectives 180

Instructional Strategies 180

Language Diversity 181

Student Evaluation 181

Grouping Students 181

Visuals 182

Role Models 183

Home and Community Relationships 183

Extracurricular Activities 184

Action Research Activity 5.1 184

How Culturally Literate Are You? 184

Answers: How Culturally Literate Are You? 187

Action Research Activity 5.2 190

Classroom and School Assessment 190

Action Research Activity 5.3 192

What Do Kids Already Know? (And Where Did They Learn It?) 192

Lesson Plans

Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks, Grade preschool, Multiple areas 193

Families, Grades K–1, Multiple areas 196

Estimation, Grades 2–4, Mathematics 200

Tie-Dyeing, Grades 4–6, Art 203

Folk and Fairy Tales, Grades 4–6, Language Arts 207

Hidden Mythologies and An Inspirational Glimpse of Aztec Mythology, Grades 4–8, Language Arts (English language development) 210

Division and Division: You Too Can Be a Mathematician!, Grades 4–8, Mathematics 217

Wholesale and Retail and Carpets and Rugs from Asia, Grades 5–8, Math 220

Composition and Perspectives , Grades 6–8, Reading, Literature, and Language Arts 223

Techniques of Painting, Grades 7–9, Art 228

Our National Anthem, Grades 6–10, Music 231

U.S. History and Hypermedia History, Grades 7–12, Social Studies 235

John Steinbeck and Literature on Migrant Workers and Exploitation, Grades 9–12, English 239

Clothing in Spanish and Clothing in the Spanish-Speaking World, Grades 9–12,Elementary Spanish 243

The Vietnam War and The Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,bGrades 10–12, U.S. History 247

The Many Faces of Self-Interest: A Multidisciplinary and Multigrade Unit 250

Lesson Plan 1 251

Lesson Plan 2: Personal Self-Interest 252

Lesson Plan 3: National Interest 253

Lesson Plan 4: Political Interest 255

Lesson Plan 5: Self-Interest and Self-Determination of Marginalized Groups 256

Features of This Unit 257

References 258

Chapter 6 Multicultural and Social Justice Education 259

Goals and Objectives 260

Critical Questioning 261

Practice Democracy 261

Analyze Systems of Oppression 262

Encourage Social Action 264

Action Research Activity 6.1 264

Student Decision Making 264

Action Research Activity 6.2 265

Discovering Issues of Concern to the Community 265

Lesson Plans

Language Experience, Grades 1–6, Reading 266

Story Time, Grades 1–8, Reading 269

Environmental Studies, Grades 5–10, Science 275

Environmental/Ecological Studies: A Local, National, and Global Concern, Grades 5–10,Science 276

Ancient Egypt and Its Lens on Social Organization, Grade 6, Language Arts and Social Studies 279

Writing Business Letters and Writing Business Letters to Assist Homeless Children and Youth, Grades 6–8, Language Arts 286

Rate and Line Graph, Grades 6–8, Mathematics 290

City Government, Grades 7–9, Social Studies 294

Settling the West and Conflict Over Western Land, Grades 8–9, Social Studies 298

Writing for an Audience and Advertising for an Audience, Grades 6–9, Language Arts 300

Creating a Newspaper, Grades 8–12, English, Journalism 304

Twentieth-Century Social Change Movements, Grades 8–12, Social Studies 309

Principles of the U.S. Legal System and The U.S. Legal System: Justice for All?, Grade 9, Social Studies 312

Heredity and Biological Determinism, Grades 10–12, Biology 317

African American Literature and Taking Action Against Discrimination, Grades 9–12, English 321

Westward Emigration, Grades 4–6, Social Studies 326

Knowledge Is Power Unit, Grades 9–12, Guidance, Home Room Activity 331

Lesson 1: What Is Student Success in a Global World? (September) 331

Lesson 2: Preparation for Success in the Twenty First Century (October) 332

Lesson 3: Handling the Truth About Who Is Usually Prepared and Who Is Not for Success in College?—Remember, Knowledge is Power! (November) 333

Lesson 4: Two Keys to Students Success in College (December) 334

Globalization, Grades 8–12, Social Studies, Economics, Global Studies 335

The United Nation: Declaration of Human Rights, Grades 6–12, Social Studies 340

Human Rights Is Social Justice, Grades 6–12, Social Studies 341

What Is Poverty and Who Does It Effect, Grades 5–8, Social Studies and Language Arts 343

Human Rights, Social Justice, and Poverty, Grades 5–8, Social Studies and Language Arts 343

References 346

Subject Index 347

Lesson Plan Index 350

Carl Grant is Professor of Teacher Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University Wisconsin-Madison and Chair of the Publication Committee of the American Education Research Association. He is a past president of the National Association for Multicultural Education.

Christine Sleeter is Professor Emeritus at California State University-Monterey Bay and Vice President of Division K, Teaching and Teacher Education, of the America Educational Research Association.

How do you practice multicultural education in the classroom?
Put the principles of diversity to work—and turn your students on to learning!

How can a teacher work with diversity, putting theory into practice to excite students and improve their academic achievement? With a wealth of ready-to-use lesson plans for grade levels K-12 covering a variety of subject areas, Turning on Learning, Fifth Edition shows you how to apply the principles of multicultural education in your classroom.

This practical, lesson-based companion to Sleeter and Grant’s Making Choices for Multicultural Education: Five Approaches to Race, Class, and Gender offers a complete toolbox of ready-to-use lesson plans covering a variety of subject areas for grades K-12. This text features additional lesson plans and new resource material, along with updates of existing lesson plans.

What do we mean by multicultural education? The Sixth Edition of Making Choices for Multicultural Education explores the latest theoretical perspectives on race, language, culture, class, gender, and disability in teaching, and encourages you to examine your own personal beliefs about classroom diversity.