Population+Diversity


 * Intro to Population Diversity**
 * 1) Show pictures of teacher’s family. Students guess where they’re from.
 * 2) In groups, students discuss the following questions about their origins:
 * 3) Where were you born? Where have you lived?
 * 4) Where are your parents from? If they moved, do you know why?
 * 5) Where are your ancestors from? If they moved, do you know why?
 * 6) Are there any population groups that you’d like to study more about (Exs. Native Americans, KKK, etc.)
 * 7) Review answers as class. The population groups that they identify will serve as the topics for oral presentations at end of thematic unit.


 * Dreams from My Father**
 * 1) Students look at pictures of Obama and family. Brainstorm what they know about him. Discuss background and how Obama is a good representative of American diversity in terms of race, religion, etc.
 * 2) Read preface and then listen to Obama reading excerpt of it. Identify how Obama views his life in terms of diversity and American diversity, in general. (US = modern, world of plenty; other countries that came to forefront in 9/11= ancient and world of want)
 * 3) Give introduction to read for homework along with corresponding graphic organizer.


 * Dreams from My Father Discussion**
 * 1) In groups, students review comprehension questions and vocabulary about Intro from book.

Resource: Tim Wise "Beyond Diversity": []
 * Tim Wise on Diversity**
 * 1) Students discuss how much interaction they have with “diverse” population groups, like race, economic classes, sexual orientation, religion, etc. Is Mexico “diverse? Why or why not?
 * 2) Watch Tim Wise’s speech on diversity. Answer comprehension and vocabulary questions. Discuss.


 * Oral Presentations**
 * 1) Students select groups and topic of population group that they want to study more.
 * 2) Research topic and present in later class.


 * Halloween Literature – The Raven.**
 * 1) Show picture of Edgar Allan Poe. Brainstorm what students know about him and his stories. Then show picture of the Raven. Students guess what it will be about.
 * 2) Watch video of Simpson’s version of The Ravens. Students discuss comprehension questions.
 * 3) Read The Raven and circle vocabulary. Then do comprehension exercises. Discuss as a class


 * The Raven Creative Writing**
 * 1) Students write a story from the perspective of the raven or Lenore. What would they say?
 * 2) Students share stories in pairs, then 1 or 2 share stories for class.