A guide for using our resources

Children will meet Justice Swann, a boy who helped design a sneaker worn by a basketball star.

Vocabulary: designed, WNBA, canvas, logo

Social Studies Focus: Autism Awareness Month

Social and Life Skills: social awareness

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 ask and answer questions; RI.1.4 determine meaning of words; RI.1.5 text features; RI.1.10 read informational texts; RF.1.1 punctuation; RF.1.2 vowels; W.1.8 gather information; SL.1.1 participate in collaborative conversations

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• Follow up Justice's story with a true story written from the perspective of a sister sharing her appreciation, challenges, love, and amazing bond with her brother, Charlie, who has autism.

• Give students a sound and have them identify which two consonants make that blend. Write down the letters where students can see. Then have them look for a word that begins with that consonant blend.
• Blends to use:
  • /dr/ drawing, drew
  • /sm/ smiley
  • /sn/ sneakers
  • /bl/ blank
  • /pl/ plays
  • /fr/ friends
  • /cr/ crowd

Skill: self-awareness, fine-motor

Materials: Design a Sneaker skill sheet, pencils, crayons

• Students will plan and illustrate their very own sneaker design, just like Justice!
• Provide each student with a Design a Sneaker skill sheet. Encourage students to plan their design by answering the questions. Allow time for students to write down their ideas.
• Then students can get to work adding colors, shapes, and pictures to their sneakers.
• When students are done, have a sneaker fashion show! Volunteers can take turns sharing their design with the class.