Title: That’s Not Fair!
Author: Carmen Tafolla & Sharyll Teneyuca
Grade Level: 3-5
Standards*
- Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, 3.2, & 3.3; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, 4.2, & 4.3; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, 5.2, & 5.3
- Virginia Standards of Learning: 3.6; 4.6; 5.6
Overarching Theme(s): Discrimination, Fairness, Point of View, Empathy, Inferencing
Timeframe: (45-60 minutes)
Summary
This book tells the story of Emma Tenayuca’s struggle for justice. As a young girl living in Texas in the 1930s, Emma saw how poorly Mexican-Americans and Mexican immigrants were being treated. They received a poor education, and were paid much less to do the same work as White people. This angered Emma, and at age 15, she began to organize protests against these injustices. One of the protests she led resulted in the raising of minimum wage for the pecan farmers and bettering their working conditions. Even though she was eventually pushed out of Texas, her efforts continued to matter in the area.
Lesson Goals
30. Identify feelings and motivations of characters
31. Determine the fairness of school busing practices