Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Celebrating Trailblazing Women with Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the incredible contributions of women throughout history. At the Early Excellence Project, we celebrate books that inspire young readers to dream big and recognize the impact of women who paved the way for future generations.

This month, we’re featuring Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison, a beautifully illustrated book that introduces children to remarkable Black women who made history. From artists and scientists to activists and athletes, these stories highlight courage, perseverance, and leadership.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with these inspiring women while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

"Celebrate inspiring stories with 'Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History' by Vashti Harrison, featured in the Early Excellence Project for young learners."

Introducing the Story: Who Are the Bold Women in Black History?

This book features short biographies of 40 groundbreaking Black women who changed the world. Through engaging text and stunning illustrations, young readers learn about women like Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, and Katherine Johnson—leaders who broke barriers and made lasting contributions in their fields.

Start with These Questions:

• What does it mean to be a leader?

• Have you heard of any of these women before?

• Why do you think it’s important to learn about women in history?

• Can boys and girls both be leaders?

These questions help children activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity before reading.

Literacy Lessons: Building Vocabulary

The stories in Little Leaders introduce children to powerful words about leadership, activism, and success.

Try These Vocabulary Activities:

• Word Hunt – As you read about each leader, point out new words like "courage," "perseverance," and "trailblazer." Explain their meanings in simple terms.

• Act It Out – If a leader was an athlete, scientist, or writer, act out what they did! Pretend to run like Wilma Rudolph or write poetry like Maya Angelou.

• Matching Game – Write down key words from the book (e.g., "brave," "innovative," "bold") and match them to the leaders in the book.

  
  

These activities help children build language skills while reinforcing the book’s themes of resilience and determination.

Exploring Story Themes: What Makes a Leader?

The women in this book made history by standing up for what they believed in and working hard to achieve their dreams. Use their stories to inspire discussions about leadership and courage.

Discussion Questions:

• What challenges did some of these women face?

• How did they overcome obstacles?

• Which leader inspires you the most? Why?

• What kind of leader do you want to be?

  
  

Encouraging children to think about leadership in their own lives helps them see that they, too, can make a difference.

Creativity Through Art: Drawing Bold Leaders

Art is a great way to help children connect with history and express what they’ve learned.

Activity: Create a "Bold Leader" Portrait

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper.

• Ask your child to choose one woman from the book and draw her portrait.

• Help them write a sentence about why she is inspiring (e.g., "Rosa Parks was brave because she stood up for fairness").

• Display the artwork to celebrate Women's History Month!

  
  

This activity helps children connect visually with history while practicing reading and writing skills.

Reflection: How Can You Be a Leader?

Encourage your little learner to think about how they can be a leader in their community, family, or school.

Reflection Questions:

• What does being a leader mean to you?

• How can you help others?

• What would you do if you saw something unfair?

  
  

Encourage them to write or draw their own story about how they can be a leader, reinforcing the idea that leadership comes in many forms.

Empowering Our Future Leaders

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is more than just a book—it’s an invitation for young readers to dream, lead, and make history in their own way. By engaging with the stories and activities in this post, your little learner will build literacy skills while learning valuable lessons about leadership and resilience.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and inspire your little one to embrace their own boldness. Stay tuned for next month’s book feature in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Finding Your Voice with Ruby René Had So Much to Say by Ashley Iman

At the Early Excellence Project, we celebrate books that empower little learners to embrace their unique voices and share their thoughts with confidence. Ruby René Had So Much to Say by Ashley Iman is a heartwarming story that encourages children to find their voice, value self-expression, and speak their truth. Through its captivating narrative and relatable themes, this book helps young readers understand the importance of communication and being true to themselves.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to help your little learner connect with Ruby’s journey while building essential reading and comprehension skills.

Exploring the Power of Words

Ruby René Had So Much to Say highlights the importance of expressing feelings and thoughts in ways that are meaningful and impactful. This theme is perfect for sparking conversations with your little learner about the power of their words.

Try These Activities:

• Feelings Chart: Create a chart with different emotions (happy, sad, excited, nervous) and discuss how Ruby might have felt in different parts of the story. Encourage your child to share times when they’ve felt the same way.

• Speaking Up Role Play: Practice scenarios where your child can use their voice, such as asking for help, sharing an idea, or inviting someone to play. This reinforces confidence in self-expression.

• Word Jar: Introduce new vocabulary from the book, such as "courage" and "expression." Add these words to a word jar, and revisit them in daily conversations.

Connecting Literacy with Self-Expression

Ruby’s story offers many opportunities to connect literacy skills with the theme of finding your voice. Use the book to foster reading comprehension and creative thinking.

Activities to Explore:

• Story Sequencing: After reading the book, ask your child to retell Ruby’s journey in their own words. What happened first? What did Ruby do next? This strengthens narrative skills.

• Character Reflection: Discuss what Ruby learned by the end of the story. Ask your child, “What did Ruby discover about her voice? How do you think she felt?”

• Personal Story Writing: Encourage your child to write (or dictate) a short story about a time they felt brave speaking up. This activity builds confidence and early writing skills.

Encouraging Self-Confidence

One of the key messages in Ruby René Had So Much to Say is the importance of believing in yourself. This theme provides a great opportunity to boost your little learner’s self-esteem.

Confidence-Boosting Questions:

• “What is something you’re really good at?”

• “When have you felt proud of yourself?”

• “What would you say if you wanted to share something important with others?”

  
  

Pair these conversations with positive affirmations. For example, “I am brave,” or “My voice matters.”

Creativity Through Art

Art is a wonderful way to help children process and express their thoughts. After reading the book, try a creative activity inspired by Ruby’s journey.

Activity: “My Voice Matters” Poster

• Provide art supplies like crayons, markers, and construction paper.

• Ask your child to draw or write about what makes their voice special. They can include phrases like, “I share kindness,” or “I ask questions.”

• Display the finished poster in a prominent place to remind your child of their unique strengths.

  
  

Reflection for Little Learners

Reflection helps children internalize what they’ve learned. After exploring Ruby’s story, ask your child to think about their own voice and how they use it.

Reflection Questions:

• “What did Ruby learn about herself?”

• “Why is it important to share how we feel?”

• “What would you like to say if you could tell the world one thing?”

  
  

Capture their reflections through a drawing, a short video, or a simple conversation.

Empowering Our Little Learners

Ruby René Had So Much to Say is more than a story—it’s an inspiring reminder that every voice matters, and every child has something valuable to share. By engaging with Ruby’s journey and the activities in this post, your little learner will build confidence in their self-expression while strengthening their literacy skills.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful moments of growth and connection. Stay tuned for more books and activities in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!

Literacy Lessons for Little Learners: Introducing Equity & Justice with the "A is for Activist" book by Innosanto Nagara

Cheerful children proudly holding books in a vibrant classroom, celebrating the joy of reading and learning together.

At the Early Excellence Project, we celebrate books that empower little learners to explore big ideas and understand the power of their voices. A is for Activist, by Innosanto Nagara, is one such book, guiding children through the alphabet with words and concepts that encourage them to think about fairness, community, and justice. Through colorful illustrations and empowering language, this book helps young readers recognize their potential to create a better world.

In this post, we’ll explore literacy lessons to inspire your little learner to engage with the themes of activism while building key reading and comprehension skills.

Introducing Big Ideas Through Alphabet Play

A is for Activist introduces young readers to bold and important vocabulary while reinforcing letter recognition. This dual focus makes it a wonderful tool for early literacy development.

Try These Activities:

• Alphabet Connection: As you read each page, point out the featured letter and encourage your child to repeat it. Talk about the word connected to the letter, like "A is for Activist" or "D is for Democracy."

• Everyday Examples: Relate each word to something your child has experienced. For example, discuss how they’ve seen fairness or sharing in their own life.

• Create Your Own Alphabet: Challenge your child to come up with their own A-to-Z of activism. For example, “B is for Brave” or “C is for Caring.” This reinforces comprehension while sparking creativity.

Exploring Activism with Little Learners

Activism is a big concept, but little learners can begin to understand it through everyday actions and relatable examples.

Start with These Questions:

• “What does it mean to stand up for what’s right?”

• “Can you think of a time when you helped a friend or shared something?”

• “Why do you think fairness is important?”

By connecting activism to their world, children begin to see how they can make a difference in small but meaningful ways.

Empowering Through Art

Art is a fantastic way for children to process and express their understanding of big ideas. After reading A is for Activist, engage in an art activity that reflects the themes of the book.

Activity: Create an Activism Poster

• Provide crayons, markers, and paper for your child to create a poster advocating for something important to them, like kindness, recycling, or fairness.

• Encourage them to use bright colors and big letters, just like the illustrations in the book.

• Display their poster in your home or classroom as a reminder of the values they care about.

  
  

Building Vocabulary with Action Words

The bold language in A is for Activist introduces children to exciting new words that can spark curiosity and conversation.

Vocabulary Activities:

• Word Hunt: Pause on each page to explore new vocabulary like “activist,” “equity,” or “solidarity.” Explain what the word means in simple terms.

• Act It Out: Turn words into actions! For “stand,” show your child how to stand tall and strong. For “share,” practice sharing toys or snacks.

• Make Connections: Encourage your child to use new words in a sentence, such as, “I share my toys because it’s fair.”

  
  

These activities help children build confidence in using language that reflects their values.

Reflecting on Activism

Reflection is an important part of learning. After reading, invite your child to think about what they’ve learned from the book.

Reflection Questions:

• “What was your favorite letter and word in the book?”

• “How can you help make the world a better place?”

• “What does being an activist mean to you?”

  
  

Capture their thoughts through drawings or a short journal entry. Even a simple sentence like, “I can be kind to my friends,” reinforces the themes of the book.

Empowering Our Youngest Activists

A is for Activist is more than just an alphabet book, it’s a call to action for little learners. By engaging with the words, ideas, and activities inspired by this book, children gain a deeper understanding of fairness, kindness, and the importance of standing up for what’s right.

We hope these literacy lessons spark meaningful conversations and inspire your little learners to dream big, think boldly, and act kindly. Stay tuned for more books and activities in our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, and as always, happy reading!