In elementary school, students benefit from seeing connections between the different content areas they come across during the day. One important tool for helping students to make connections between information is a theme, in which one concept, whether idea, person, place, or thing, draws together different areas of information. Children's books can also help bring literacy into every area of teaching.
Using Hair to Teach Literacy
Bedhead, by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Jack E. Davis, [Simon & Schuster, 2000] is a story in which Oliver awakens one morning to find, with horror, he has bedhead. Despite his best efforts (and those of his family) to contain the problem, he has to wear a hat to school, only to discover it’s picture day, and no hats are allowed.
The students learn to read the word “Hair” and make sentences after the story is complete. They should make sounds along with the book “Boing. . . sproing” etc. when Oliver takes his hat off and his hair springs out. They should observe the long a (hair) and short a (head).
Teaching Math through Hair
The students will read The Long and Short of It, by Cheryl Nathan and Lisa McCourt, illustrated by Cheryl Nathan [Troll, 1999]. This book introduces students to concepts of long and short, by comparing animals such as an ostrich and a bluebird.
After they have read the book, the students will measure their hair length using a ruler, and then graph hair length from shortest to longest.
Writing on the Subject of Hair
Students read This is My Hair by Todd Parr [Little, Brown & Co, 2004], showing all the different ways hair can be, embracing the differences between the children’s sense of style.
After reading the story, the students should describe their hair (curly, straight, short, long, etc.) and draw a picture of themselves, emphasizing the hair.
Teaching Art about Hair
In Touch the Art: Brush Mona Lisa’s Hair, by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo [Sterling, 2006], students learn about Leonardo Da Vinci’s great painting the Mona Lisa and can touch and brush her hair.
After they read the book, and experience the Mona Lisa’s hair, the students can draw their own Mona Lisa.
Using Movement to Teach about Hair
For movement/dance, the students will read Franny B. Kranny, There’s A Bird in Your Hair! [HarperCollins, 2003] by Harriet Lerner and Susan Goldhor, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Franny will not allow her long red hair to be cut, and so the hairstylist piles the hair on top of her head, where a small bird lands and builds a nest in it. She enjoys the bird, and decides to live life with a bird in her hair, much to the chagrin of her family.
Students will balance a small paper bird on their heads (in their hair), and do their best to walk with it on their heads. If they can, they can try to hop on one foot and balance the bird, do jumping jacks, etc.
Teaching Science on the Subject of Hair
Students will read Ruthie Bon Bair: Do Not Go to Bed With Wringing Wet Hair by Susan Lubner, illustrated by Bruce Whatley [Abrams, 2006].
Ruthie Bon Bair will not dry her hair before she goes to bed, and so wakes up with mushrooms growing out of her hair, then lush ferns, then lilly pads, then frogs . . .
The children talk about cause and effect, and then talk about what actually happens to lead all those swampy things to grow, and learn about a swamp.
Social Studies on the Subject of Hair
Hairs Pelitos by Sandra Cisernos [Dragonfly, 1997] is a bilingual story in which a child describes the differences between the hair of her family members.
The children can learn about Hispanic culture as they learn more about differences in hair.
Future Directions for Themes
Hair is something which is a common experience for children, and they can relate to books or lessons about the subject. These are some ideas about lessons for subjects such as literacy, math, science, and social studies.
While learning about hair, students can learn how to embrace the diversity of their different hair styles, and learn about each of them while increasing their literacy skills. Students may enjoy learning about other avenues of personal expression and difference, such as clothing, music, or dance.
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