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Q: How do I define hope, justice and freedom for my little learner?

A: These concepts can be difficult to explain for adults let alone for children to understand. Yet they are principles that are extremely important to learn; the earlier, the better.  One suggestion is by learning about people who have exemplified these ideas and used them to help others. As Mr. Rogers and Daniel Tiger would say, “Look for the helpers.” 

 

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis were two “helpers” who exemplified these principles in tremendous ways. They embodied the essence of the terms and never lost sight of how vital they were for this nation to thrive. Both of their lives were dedicated to securing justice and freedom for all while letting hope guide their work and love for this great country.  

 

Here are several great children’s books written about these incredible individuals to help in explaining the definition of hope, justice and freedom:

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim 

March Books 1-3 by John Lewis  

I Dissent by Debbie Levy 

No Truth Without Ruth by Kathleen Krull  

 

And for more resources on both Justice Bader Ginsburg and Congressman Lewis check out PBSLearningMedia.   

 

Mrs. Pizzo

From Mrs. Pizzo's Workshop

Robin Pizzo leads the education outreach efforts of WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, the PBS and NPR affiliate serving Michigan's capital region. Robin convenes partnerships and coordinates station initiatives such as WKAR Family and Ready to Learn to bring workshops, learning tools, and other resources into the community to help kids be resilient, lifelong learners.
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