In the unit ‘Me & My Family Tree’, we will learn about genetics and how our bodies use DNA to determine the characteristics we have. We will explore our own hereditary traits and learn about how they are passed down from one generation to the next. We will get to test ourselves for a variety of traits, then graph the results. In addition to graphing, students will utilize math skills in probability, fractions (ratios), and percents.
To help students relate and understand what a family is and how family members are connected, I love to use high-quality children’s books.
Reading together to begin a unit helps everyone feel included and, if the books are chosen well, provides lots opportunity for discussion. Students who are talking are involved! Ask the right questions, and you can find out a lot about students’ prior knowledge and any misconceptions.
My two favorite children’s books for this unit both happen to have the same title: All Kinds of Families!
The first book called All Kinds of Families is written by Norma Simon and Illustrated by Joe Lasker. It is an excellent, thorough overview of what family means. It includes less typical family arrangements such as two moms or dads, living with one parent, having family far away or even in prison, single-parent families and adoptive families. It also lightly touches on topics that can be hard for children to understand including family members that don’t get along and loved ones who pass away.
One of the most subtle things I love about this book is that rather than telling about what family is, it suggests what family can be. This shift in word choice significantly helps eliminate any self-consciousness children may feel about their families. It provides insight into how families are constantly changing and how we are all connected to those before us and those who will come after us.
This book invites all children from all family types to learn and think more about family.
The second book about families I also absolutely adore is also called All Kinds of Families, but it is written by Mary Ann Hoberman and Illustrated by Marc Boutavant.
This book introduces the idea that the word ‘family’ can be applied to other subjects– not just people. The bright illustrations are engaging and are the perfect complement to this playful, imaginative story.
Readers will finish this book feeling excited to create families of all kinds. It is the perfect segue into a sorting, grouping or classifying task, which could stem from any subject at all– math, science, language, art, social studies.
I love all of the different directions thinking and learning can go after reading this book. Talk about a conversation starter with kids! With this book, you can ask kids before reading “What things can you think of that could be considered a family?” and know that with near certainty the ideas they have will be found (or you can work into) this book.
Mary Ann Hoberman also does a beautiful job of describing the branching, tree-like nature of families and the complexity of them the farther back you go. I love to read her words in “All Kinds of Families” to lead students right into creating a family tree of their own.
To see how I incorporated these two books into learning and exploring in The Biggest Classroom, check out my Biggest Classroom Lesson Plans.