Social Justice Books and Activities for Grade Four Students

This activity includes Grade Four specific suggestions on how to use the following picture books to tackle issues such as bullying, conflict resolution and exclusion:

The Tale of Sir Dragon: Dealing with Bullies for Kids (and DRAGONS)
Written by Jean E. Pendziwol
Illustrated by Martine Gourbault
Published by Kids Can Press
Issues: Conflict Resolution – Bullying

Please Louise!
Written by Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Published by Groundwood Books
Issue: Conflict Resolution

Pink
Written by Nan Gregory
Illustrated by Luc Melanson
Published by Groundwood Books
Issues: Social Justice and Equity – Character Building

In this activity, students will apply decision-making and problem solving skills in addressing threats to personal safety and injury prevention.

Step # 1: Before reading the picture book ask the students to think about why personal safety is important in the home, school and community.

Step # 2: Read the picture book to the children.

Step # 3: Have the children identify the conflicts in the story and discuss other ways the characters could have dealt with them.

Step # 4: Discuss problem solving strategies in a conflict resolution context with your students. What can they do? How can they help?

Step # 5: Split the children into groups of four or five and give each group a scenario (similar to the issues addressed in the picture book or even problems that have occurred in your own classroom or on the playground) then have the groups discuss ways in which to solve the problem.