Personal and Cultural Identity: Lesson 1

"Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon

BEFORE VIEWING:

Think and discuss with your children about how birds and bats may be similar to each other but yet are unique. In what way are birds and bats similar? In what way are they different?

When you’re ready, watch the read-aloud video with your child(ren)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqPcPzJHnO0&t=12s&ab_channel=StorytimeBunnies

After Viewing

How was Stellaluna a little bit like her adopted bird family? How was she different?

Stellauna was like the birds because she flew, but she was different because she ate fruit not bugs, slept during the day not at night, hung by her feet from the nest.

Note how she continued to sleep upside down. This is a part of her bat culture that she kept.

The mother bird was upset when she saw the baby birds hanging upside down, why?

Do you think she might have been afraid and thought it was dangerous for her children?

When we don’t understand people that are different from us often people can be afraid just like mama bird was.

Do you think there will be things that are very different in your new home? What could some of those be? What could you do to help you understand differences?

This is a great opportunity to prepare your children for some of the cultural differences they may experience in their new home. However, make sure to clarify that there will be surprises; you won’t know everything that will be different before you arrive and that’s okay.

Stellaluna was embarrassed when she could not land on a branch like the birds. Have you ever been embarrassed when your behavior was different from others?

No right or wrong answers for this one; encourage your child(ren) to be honest.

Do you think you will be embarrassed when you move to a new place?

No right or wrong answers for this one; encourage your child(ren) to be honest.

TCK Thoughts

Talk about the word "Adapt"

What does it mean to adapt? (to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation.)

What are some different ways Stellaluna adapted while living with the birds?

What are some of the ways you have adapted or will need to adapt to your life when you move?

What are some of the things from your passport culture that you will continue while in your host country?

Post-Reading Activity

Bat Activities

We are going to do some bat activities! You can do as many of these activities as you want; choose whichever versions are best for your child(ren)’s age level and interests.

Bat Craft:

Needed:

TP rolls (one per child)
Scissors
Paste/glue
Bat parts printout (ICC4C Bat Craft Template) per child
Tan paint
Brushes
One pair of 10mm wiggly eyes per child

Assembly: Print the bat parts on tan paper OR paint the parts tan after printing, then cut them out. Paint the TP roll the same color as the bat parts. Glue wings, head, feet and tail, and wiggly eyes to the TP roll to create your bat.

Bat Word Search:

For children who are readers.

Print out the Bat Word Search Sheet here: ICC for Children Bat Word Search