February is Black History Month. Every year, my 5th graders do a biography report on a well-known African-American and we put the finished products up on the wall in the library for all to see. They usually turn out pretty cool and the kids like completing the project.
The hard part is choosing their person. I'm pretty flexible with their choices, but I do guide them to choose someone who's made a contribution to society and someone who will be easy to research.
Student: Can I do Shel Silverstein?
Me: Umm, he's white.
Me: Umm, he's white.
Student: Are you sure?
Me: Pretty sure.....
Student: I want to do Ichiro.
Me: Ichiro? He's not black.
Student: Ohhhh.....
So I told Steve, my teaching partner, about these conversations. Steve is Asian, Chinese, to be exact. Here's what Steve said, "Do you think they think I'm black??!?
We cracked up! For a long time. Over and over.
Man, I love the things that come out of kids' mouths!
1 comment:
I want to do Madonna then.
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