
This post originally appeared on the blog The Daily Alphabet.
I Love My Hair is all about self-acceptance.
I think that I love this book because it reminds me
of myself as a child! I HATED to have my hair done.
I kind of tolerated my mom doing my hair,
but my grandmother was RUTHLESS!!!
She didn’t care if it hurt; she just got it done!
It does bring back fond memories, though!
After we talk about how we all look different on the outside,
and the shades of our skin are wonderful, we start to get
more into The Underground Railroad.
I love to introduce this movement by reading
Henry’s Freedom Box.
They can’t believe people used to own other people,
like a piece of clothing or toy.
They’re also very interested in the fact that Henry
mails himself to freedom!
This book begins with Henry as a child, and then
follows him through adulthood.
Goin’ Someplace Special tells the story of ‘Tricia Ann,
a little girl growing up in the South during the 1950’s,
a time when segregation was legal and enforced.
She begs her grandmother to go on a trip to Someplace Special,
all by herself. With some reluctance, her grandmother agrees.
While traveling, ‘Tricia Ann is always reminded of where she can’t
go, where she can’t sit, and more.
Then she remembers what her grandmother told her,
to always walk with her head held high, because she is somebody!
And then she finally arrives at Someplace Special,
the library! I love this story, because the library
was always my favorite place to go as a child, and it still is.
I’m not even sure when I ran across this book,
but once I read it, I knew that A Taste of Colored Water
had to have a place in my classroom library.
This books is slightly different, as it is from the perspective
of white children. It’s all Abbey Finch’s fault! Lulu and Jelly
just have to visit town, because they want to see the colored fountain!
They’re imagining all the flavors, cherry, lemon,
orange, apple — you name it!
Once they arrive in town, they happen upon a protest, marching singers,
police and their dogs, and firemen.
Alright, so those are some of my favorite read-clouds
to begin my black history unit.
Keep reading on for more information on how I teach black history.

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Angela is a Kindergarten/1st grade looping teacher in Birmingham, Alabama. She has been teaching for 11 years, and enjoys incorporating engaging, play-based and standards-based activities into her classroom. To take a peek at her classroom and instructional approach, you can find her at her blog, The Daily Alphabet. Connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and at her TpT store, The Daily Alphabet.