Thematic Unit Literature

                                                                                                                                                                   

My Secret Bully       

Trudy Ludwig    

Reading level: Ages 5 and up. 32 pages

 Publisher: Tricycle Press (April 1, 2005)

Here is the all-too-familiar story of Monica.  She and Katie have been friends since kindergarten.  Monica loves being around her when she's nice.  But there are times when Katie can be just plain mean.  And Monica doesn't understand why.

Monica is a target of relational aggression, emotionally bullying among friends who will use name-calling and manipulation to humiliate and exclude.  But with a little help from a supportive adult—her mother—Monica learns to cope and thrive by facing her fears and reclaiming power from her bully.

THEME: Bullying

All through history there have been bullies. This is illustrated in many of the traditional literature titles we have just researched, by Bible stories and many other sources across cultures and societies. We have recently begun focusing on the effects of bullying on the psyche and the consequences it creates.

Purpose:

Through a thematic unit on bullying I hope to teach children to identify bullying behaviors and some techniques to address the behavior, as well as to explore the genres of literature that cover the topic of bullying.

Grade Level Focus:  2-3-4

TRADITIONAL LITERATURE/FOLKTALES IN BULLYING THEME

Bokuden and the Bully: A Japanese Folktale

Stephen Krensky

Bokuden was a great swordsman who liked to travel. One day, while riding a ferry, a bully started bothering the other passengers. He took the best spot on the boat and waved his sword around. Bokuden was not impressed. The bully challenged him to a fight. Bokuden agreed but said he would not need to use his sword to win. Can Bokuden live up to his amazing claim?

                               Reading level: Ages 7 and up

                               Publisher: First Avenue Editions; Reprint edition (August 1, 2009)

The Three Bully Goats

Leslie Kimmelman

When Gruff, Ruff, and Tuff, bully their way across a bridge and into a meadow -- teasing a kind ogre and butting small animals along the way. The ogre, frustrated that being friendly and polite didn't work, hatches a plan to teach the "bully" goats a lesson. This twist on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" is a great read-aloud (and discussion starter) will have kids laughing in the aisles.

Cinderella

K.Y. Craft

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Traditional Literature

        THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOLKTALES

Two Way to Count to Ten: A Liberian Folktale
Ruby Dee & Susan Meddaugh


King Leopard is wise enough to plan for a successor: 'I must seek out the cleverest beast in our jungle. I must find one who is wise enough to rule well.' He plans a contest; the winner is to be named a prince and marry his daughter. Contestants must throw Leopard's spear up in the air and count to ten before it comes to earth again...




Why The Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale
Mary Joan Gearson

The sky was so close to the earth that anyone who was hungry could just reach up, take a piece, and eat it. The sky was delicious, tasting sometimes of meat stew, sometimes of roasted corn. But the people grew careless with the sky's gifts, taking more than they needed to satisfy their hunger.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale
Verna Aardema

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is an African folktale which offers a great lesson to be learned by children. The story is about a mosquito who tells a lie to an iguana and annoys the iguana. This sets off a series of events that affects everyone who lives in the forest and the initiation of daylight.