Banned Books: The Forbidden Fruit

It’s that time again!  It’s time to celebrate 30 years of liberating literature.   September 30^th – October 6^th is Banned Books Week.  Learning out the forbidden fruit can be a great way to get kid's involved in reading and critical thinking.  Last year’s blog featured the resources to get students to locate books banned in their area in the last year using this Google Map and the list of banned books found on the ALA site. 

 Book Banning ripped from the headlines

Book banning is not just something that occurred in history or in totalitarian countries.  Just last week there was another news story about a book banning in Pennsylvania!  This story with some great quotes from students and ties to the First Amendment would make a great “ripped from the headlines” lesson.   Talk about your timely current events!

The Banned Books Week site has links for teacher resources and lots of information including lists by year. It is surprising to see so many of the books that I was required to read listed as books that were challenged.  I bet your students would find that they too have read banned books (since the Harry Potter Series and Hunger Games Series are on the lists).  Do they think that books should be banned?  What are the issues?

TregoED is offering a free SCAN lesson for Banned Books Week called “Banning Books – Do you agree?”

Here’s the scenario:

Since the release of the Twilight, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series, there has been a lot of controversy in your town. A group of influential families has campaigned to have these, as well as a list of other books, banned from school libraries. It seems these parents object to the values represented in certain books, and do not want their children exposed to controversial or inappropriate topics. As taxpayers, these parents feel they have the right to say what is appropriate for their children to read in school. They have threatened legal action against the district if the books are not removed from the library. Students, media specialists, parents, and school officials all have different points of view on the subject. What action can they take to resolve the issues? 

Students are given some information from the perspective they choose to represent and work together to decide what should be done.  You simply register, log in and set up the free discussion platform for your students. (New to SCAN check out this 3 minute video)  No student registration or emails required.

There are lots of other great ideas to get your students thinking about the freedom to read.  Have them check out the videos on the Youtube Banned Books Week Channel and contribute their own.  

Banned books week is another opportunity to get kids to think critically, write persuasively and learn to appreciate the freedom to read!

Resources to get Kids to Read, Write and Reflect on Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we traditionally thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  Do your students see the connection to their lives?  Having students connect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to their daily lives is a great way to develop an appreciation for freedom and the democracy that so many have died to protect.

 Integrating the Common Core

Integrating the Common core with the many resources that are available can get your students reading, writing and thinking.  With these resources, we can move beyond the “What freedom means to me” five paragraph essay and have them:

• Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research (W9)
• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence (W7.1)
• With the added bonus of focusing on “discipline-specific content” for social studies (WLHST 8.1)”  (Common Core State Standards Initiative)  

Making the Connections

The Bill of Rights Institute features thought-provoking lesson plans, links and resources connecting current events with the Constitution.  Have your students explore the following:

Is there a difference between searching a student’s locker or backpack and searching their phone? 

Should people be able to stand their ground, as in the case in Florida?

Take a look at “Current Events and the Constitution”  for information on internet piracy, airport scanners and illegal searches.

Or “Bill of Rights in the News”  for lessons on stand your ground, occupy protests or GPS tracking.

Have them read  Education Week articles:  “Students Under Arrest?”  to spark the discussion of bringing police in to deal out discipline in schools.

Or  “Can schools legally block Internet sites?” Can it be argued that it is the same as book banning? 

Check out these free SCAN lessons at TregoED.org to have your students explore topics from different perspectives in an engaging online discussion platform:

A New Approach to Remembering Pearl Harbor- Have students debate the merits of looking at history from all perspectives. Check out the Collaborize Classroom Topic Library for some great discussion topics to enhance this lesson. 

Locker Searches and the Fourth Amendment- Remind students of the freedoms secured in battle by looking at their connection to the Bill of Rights.

More Memorial Day Resources:

Memorial Day Lessons from NEA.

Video:  The History of Memorial Day in 3 Minutes

Video writing prompts on volunteering and bravery from Teach Hub

Memorial Day is a day to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made to maintain the freedoms guaranteed to us in our Constitution.  How do you help your students understand and exercise this freedom?