Homelessness: Today we discussed this photograph. The students shared their ideas of what they saw in the photo, we recorded their observations rather than their guesses or inferences. We placed their observations on the photograph through an app called “explain everything”. Their observations are placed in white text scattered around the photograph. Next, the students then discussed how they sleep at home and the images or texts that they have in their own rooms each night. Those observations are in blue in the top right corner.
Finally we chatted about how this photograph made them feel. The photograph made kids feel sad and scared and wondering why someone would sleep on the street. They wished this person had a stuffy to sleep with so that he/she wouldn’t feel scared . Students had questions ranging from why is someone sleeping on the road, where is their home, where is their mommy and it must be hard to sleep because of cars going by etc. We discussed that people in Mississauga and Toronto and other places that some people actually sleep on the street at night in winter and summer. The kids were shocked and saddened by this reality. Your children were able to think critically, deconstruct and take an in-depth look at a multi-layered photograph. The rich discussion that evolved further exemplifies the importance of visual critical literacy to our young learners. They did such an amazing job.
Next, our kindergarten friends listened to the story entitled “The Lady in a Box”. This fantastic picture book/ story shows how kids can make a difference to the problem of homelessness in their community.
The next step in this process will to actively get our kindergarten friends enabling them to choose “how they can help” through action. Stay tuned.