Day+1


 * Title:** Our Family Forest


 * Grade Level:** K-3

To have students explore family diversity and make “family” trees
 * Goal:**

The student will:
 * Objectives:**
 * Discuss what a family really means
 * Listen to a story about a family
 * Explore the diversity of family types and configurations.
 * Draw pictures of their own family members
 * Create a “family” tree


 * Materials**
 * //Families are Different// by Nina Pellegrini (big book)
 * Chart paper with three columns labeled “K(now) W(ant to know) L(earned)”
 * Large wall or display space
 * Markers
 * Construction paper with photocopy of leaves
 * Scissors
 * Stapler/Tape
 * Handout
 * Crayons
 * glue


 * Source of idea:** Berenstain Bears See, Think & Do Activity Guide PBS Kids


 * Teacher Preparation:**
 * Obtain and familiarize yourself with Families are Different //by Nina Pellegrini//
 * Photocopy or trace leaves onto construction paper.


 * Instructional Procedures:**
 * 1) Ask the students: “What is a family?” and “Who makes up a family?” Write their responses in the K column for what they already know. Then ask the students what they would like to learn about families. Write these in the W column.
 * 2) Read aloud the book, //Families are Different// by Nina Pellegrini.This book is about a girl named Nico, who is adopted, who is upset because she doesn't look like her mom, dad or sister. Nico realizes that there are many different kinds of families around her, some with one dad and no mom, some with no moms and dads, some with step parents, and many more. This story emphasizes that no family is the same.
 * 3) After reading the book, ask if there was anything that they learned about how families are formed. Write these answers in the L column.
 * A child living with mom and dad (parents by birth) ... the traditional family.
 * A child raised by grandparents.
 * A child of a single parent.
 * A child of separated or divorced parents, living with one parent. If the parent remarries or enters a new relationship, the child gains a stepmother or stepfather.
 * A foster child, with both foster parents and biological parents. Foster children who are moved from one foster home to another (very common) have had a series of foster parents.
 * An adopted child has two sets of parents: biological parents and adoptive parents. The child often knows her birth parents and has contact with them (but some may not). Children adopted from abroad know little of their roots. Some older adoptees (especially teens) who never knew their birth parents seek to find them and know more about themselves, their birth family and, in transcultural adoptions, their birth culture.
 * A child of a same-sex couple has two mothers or two fathers. The child may call her parents "my mother [father]" and "my other mother [father]". One of the couple may be the biological parent ... the child may result from donor insemination or from a previous relationship with a biological parent, who may or may not be in the picture. Alternatively, one of the couple, or both, may have adopted the child. Thus a child may have, for example, three mothers: a birth mother and two co-parenting adoptive mothers.

4. Distribute handout of leaves photocopied onto construction paper and instruct children to make “family trees” on which “leaves” represent family members. 5. Encourage children to draw small pictures of their individual family members on each leaf. If the child is not comfortable sharing about his/her family they can represent Nico's family on the leaves. 6. Cut out the leaves and label each drawing with family member’s name and relation. 7. Paste leaves onto each child’s family tree. Tape all family trees onto the “Our Family Forest” bulletin board display. 8. Ask each child to share about his or her family tree, naming each member.

Hilborn, R. (2005) Teacher's Guide to Adoption. Retrieved November 24, 2006, from @http://www.familyhelper.net/ad/adteach.html
 * Resources:**

Pelligrini, N. (1991) Families are Different. New York: Holiday House.

The Berenstain Bears. (2002) Retrieved December 5, 2006, from @http://pbskids.org/berenstainbears/caregiver/outreach.html