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!
Comments