diversity spotlight

Kim Kita's first-grade class completed a unit on South America in December. Students read non-fiction books about the continent, saw digital slide shows about the people and countries in that continent, read folktales from Peru, Brazil, and Argentina, and learned music from these three countries. Through this multiplicity of mediums, students learned gained a broader understanding about the region, along with developing skills of observation, inquiry, and data collection.

In first grade, Kim Kita's 1B class used the Good Cents program as a springboard to study Oakland community leaders. Using the Good Cents website with links to various leaders' biographies, students worked in groups, learned about particular community leaders, and created pop-up thank you cards. The lesson helped students learn about their own community, think about the needs of others, and explore how these leaders look beyond their own personal needs to help improve the lives of others in the community.

Cooking instructor Thelma Lancaster has worked with students in all lower school classrooms to make sugar skulls and pan de muerto, bread in the shape of skulls and bones in preparation for the Days of the Dead. In addition, she and Barbara Jerabek have been cooking all week with the second grade, making multiple dishes for an ofrenda, food offerings given at gravesides to honor those who have died.

Taj Simmons’ 2A class discussed Less Than Half, More Than Whole, the story of a biracial Native American boy who learns to appreciate his unique biracial identity. Students also made connections with their own lives after reading Two Mrs.