Dr. Seuss teaches peace - The
Sneetches
"If we are to reach real peace in the world, we shall have to begin with the
children." Gandhi
 The
Sneetches (about us vs. them and anti-Semitism, racism, tolerance). Students
are informed that the Nazis often required Jews to wear yellow stars on their
clothing to identify themselves as Jewish. (3rd- 4th
graders)
Background/ History
Published in 1961, The Sneetches was written during the controversial times in America of the civil
rights movement. Depicting messages of
racism, and discrimination, he uses a simple star as the cause for major conflict in this story. The yellow, seemingly primitive Sneetches try to find
power through discriminating against one another based on a distinction so
insignificant as the presence of a star on their belly.
Dr. Seuss also
tactfully points out the unfortunate truth that people sometimes profit from
conflict and harmful products, using Sylvester McMoney McBean as a
personification of this danger.
Objectives
- Students
will discuss the concepts of seclusion, racism, and discrimination
- Students
will analyze the significance of diversity, differences, and stereotypes
- Students
will compare the story’s themes to historical events
- Students
will discuss the role of profiteering from conflicts and harmful behavior
- Students
will discuss how being good global stewards requires treating others with
kindness and respect
Instructions:
1. Provide students with
instruction on how to tell powerful stories.
2. Hand
out
copies of the book and have the students read it giving many students a chance to read.
3.
Start a
class discussion with open ended questions such as:
- Dr.
Seuss uses stars to create a wedge between two groups of Sneetches.
What are some more modern causes of conflict?
- Were
the two groups of Sneetches really different in any way other than the
stars? What does Sylvester McMoney McBean inevitably show the Sneetches
by the end when they have lost track of their groups?
- Why
does Sylvester continue the conflict between the Sneetches?
- What is
important about ending discrimination and finding win-win outcomes?
4. Pointing
out that Sylvester essentially used a game plan to continue profiting,
transition into a class activity. Give half the students rubber bands to put
on their wrist.
5. Next, play
a short game of musical chairs. Only students without rubber bands can play.
6. At the end of the game ask the students with
the rubber bands how they felt.
7. Repeat the game but this time it is the
students with rubber bands that can play.
8. Ask the students without rubber bands how
they felt.
9. End by reinforcing that rules to
discriminate interfere with becoming good local and global stewards.
Evaluation
Start a
class discussion prompting the students to see that even in a children’s
game, discrimination leads to bad feelings and injustice.
Roleplay by having students present The
Sneetches story and helping students appreciate how the message relates to
being a good global steward.
Start a class discussion prompting the students to discuss what is important
about ending discrimination and how to find win-win solutions.
Optional follow up
activities
1. Create human cut-outs so
that every student receives one. Then, using ethnic colored pencils/crayons as
well as normal colors, have the students color the cut-outs in as themselves.
Once they are finished, have a large rainbow shaped cut-out on which the students
can glue their drawings on to demonstrate how all the colors come together to
illustrate the beauty of diversity. Prompt a discussion to illustrate that
although their drawings are all different and unique, they all started with the
exact same cut-out, and that despite their differences, they all share
commonalities as well.
2. Show the animated
movie The Sneetches.
3. Make an act of kindness
jar. This is a fun tool to record and reward acts of kindness.
Parent Adaptation
Background/ History
Published in 1961, The Sneetches was written during the controversial times in America of the civil
rights movement. Depicting messages of
racism, and discrimination, he uses a simple star as the cause for major conflict in this story. The yellow, seemingly primitive Sneetches try to find
power through discriminating against one another based on a distinction so
insignificant as the presence of a star on their belly.
Dr. Seuss also
tactfully points out the unfortunate truth that people sometimes profit from
conflict and harmful products, using Sylvester McMoney McBean as a
personification of this danger.
Objectives
- Students
will discuss the concepts of seclusion, racism, and discrimination
- Students
will analyze the significance of diversity, differences, and stereotypes
- Students
will compare the story’s themes to historical events
- Students
will discuss the role of profiteering from conflicts and harmful behavior
- Students
will discuss how being good global stewards requires treating others with
kindness and respect
Instructions:
1. Hand
out
the book and have your child read it.
2. Start a
discussion with open ended questions such as:
- Dr.
Seuss uses stars to create a wedge between two groups of Sneetches.
What are some more modern causes of conflict?
- Were
the two groups of Sneetches really different in any way other than the
stars? What does Sylvester McMoney McBean inevitably show the Sneetches
by the end when they have lost track of their groups?
- Why
does Sylvester continue the conflict between the Sneetches?
- What is
important about ending discrimination and finding win-win outcomes?
Evaluation
Start a
discussion prompting your child to see that even in a children’s
game, discrimination leads to bad feelings and injustice.
Start a discussion prompting your
child to discuss what is important about ending discrimination and how to find
win-win solutions.
Optional follow up
activities
1. Create human cut-outs for
your child. Then, using ethnic colored pencils/crayons as
well as normal colors, the student colors the cut-outs as people around the
world.
Once they are finished, have a large rainbow shaped cut-out on which the students
can glue their drawings on to demonstrate how all the colors come together to
illustrate the beauty of diversity.
2. Show the animated
movie The Sneetches.
For more information
please call us or write to
contact@teachpeace.com.
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