Homeless
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Student
Curriculum
The goal of this web page is to enable the reader to readily access the curricula, lesson plans, resources, and materials cited. When available, links have been entered that go directly to the document. The curriculum and lessons cited are designed, in most instances, for use with regular class students. The grade levels are only suggestions. Teachers may want to review the material to determine if it is suitable for their grade level. Some lessons listed at higher levels could be used at lower grade levels with modifications.
¨
Classroom Activities on
Homelessness: Middle. Written for middle school students, but could be
adapted for any grade level, K-12.Seven lessons are presented that were adapted
from On the Street Where You Live: Lesson Plans on Homelessness for Middle
School Students prepared by the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless,
November, 1998. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Community Awareness,
activities to enhance: High School. An extensive number of activities that
are designed for use by school personnel to enhance awareness of homelessness
within the community. Although designed for use by school personnel, all or
part of the activities could be modified into service learning activities to be
completed by high school students. Located on the National Coalition for the
Homeless web site.
¨
Curriculum Materials for Students:
Middle-High School. This is on the National Center for Homeless Education web
site.
¨
Educational
Materials: These educational materials may be used independently or to
accompany the Forget Me Not 2001 video. Includes preschool, elementary, middle,
and high school materials. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless
web site. Pre-K, Elementary, Junior High, and High School curricular packets
may be ordered from the web site at a minimal cost.
¨
Exercises for use
with groups: These are written to be used with adult members of the
community, but appear to be appropriate for high school age youth and possibly
middle and junior high school age youth. This is on the National Center for
Homeless Education web site.
¨
Fact Sheets: Excellent
reading materials on a variety of topics regarding homelessness that can be
incorporated into lessons. Topics include education for homeless students,
family homelessness, unaccompanied youth, and homelessness issues. Located on
the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Homelessness: A Resource Guide
for Grades K-12: Curriculum and lessons,
helping children and youth understand and to be involved: This publication
includes separate instructional lessons for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
¨
Life Skills for Kids. A
resource and activity guide for homeless children, ages 7 to 12. Ten
"life-skill" lessons, including self-esteem, social skills/budgeting,
self concept in art and photography.
¨
Lesson Plans, Minnesota Coalition for the
Homeless. K-3, 4-6, 7-9. The lesson plan contain lessons and materials
regarding awareness, needs, rural homelessness, helping, causes, community
resources, unaccompanied youth, and vulnerability.
¨
Reading materials, on line: Educational readers regarding America’s homeless
children. Topics include ”What its like to be homeless”, “How do children
and youth become homeless?”, “How many children are homeless? (middle and high
school)”, “How many children/young people are homeless? (middle and high
school)”, “How is homeless harmful to children/youth? (middle and high
school)”, “Helping families who are homeless”. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
·
Middle
¨
Unsheltered
Lives: An Interdisciplinary Resource and Activity Guide for Teaching about
Homelessness in Grades K-12 by Alex Messinger. Available from Department of
Education, Compensatory Education Unit, 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT
05620-2501.
¨
Vignettes of Homeless
Students: Elementary, middle, high school. The following vignettes can be
modified into lessons for children and youth. They are located on the National
Center for Homeless Education web site.
· Needs of Children Who
Are Homeless
· Homeless Ed Programs
Making a Difference: Reports from Local School Districts
¨ Preschool: An annotated listing of books, fiction and non-fiction, videos and web sites on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site. A link was not available to go directly to the listings. The link provided goes to the web site. An educational materials packet for Preschool may be ordered.
¨
Understanding
homeless and vocabulary, Lesson Plan VII,
4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Lesson Plan I, K-3,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
¨
Lesson Plan I, 4-6,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
¨
Identifying,
Lesson Plan VIII,
4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Finding,
Lesson Plan IX,
4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Elementary:
An annotated listing of books, fiction and non-fiction, videos and web sites on
the National Coalition for the Homeless web site
Legislation, Rules (Rights
of homeless students)
¨
Letter
writing campaign, Lesson
Plan XI, 4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Where do
the children sleep, page 34: 5-12 WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
Includes a handout to be completed by students.
¨
Where
does homelessness occur, Lesson Plan IV, K-3,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Where
does homelessness occur, Lesson Plan V, 4-6,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Exploring Myths and Stereotypes
About Homelessness: 5-12. Students will learn about homelessness by
exploring myths and stereotypes. Located on the National Coalition for the
Homeless web site.
¨
Myths and
Facts about Homelessness, page 25: 5-12 WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
¨
Identify
basic needs, Lesson
Plan II, K-3, Minnesota Coalition for the
Homeless
¨
Comparing
wants and needs, Lesson
Plan III, K-3, Minnesota Coalition for the
Homeless.
¨
Why
some youth can’t go home, Lesson Plan XII, 6,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
Understanding homelessness
¨
What Home Means To Me: Tile Mosaic
Project: Lesson 1. K-12. Students will think about and express what home
means to them. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Walking Around in
Someone Else's Shoes: K-6. It is located on the National Center for
Homeless Education web site.
¨
Lesson Plan VII,
4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
What you can do to help:
¨
Student-run
food bank. Elementary students developed a food bank. A service learning
program. Page 94. On the Pennsylvania Department of Education web site.
¨ Kids can help the homeless: A short presentation designed for elementary students defining homelessness and listing ways kids can help. K-5. It is located on the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development web site.
¨
Kids
That Care" Kits, Lesson 6: K-12. Students develop and create "kids
that care" kits for homeless people and families. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Identify
ways to help, Lesson
Plan V, K-3, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Posters:
These posters convey important information and list persons that can be
contacted for help. As a community service project, students could distribute
them throughout the community. Another source of posters is http://www.serve.org/nche/CommAware/poster2.html
¨
What You Can Do to Help Homeless
Children & Families: Ideas for Kids, Classrooms, and Schools: K-12.
Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
M. Chalofsky, G. Finland, and J. Wallace. (1992) Gryphon House, Inc., 3706 Otis Street, Mt. Rainier, Maryland 20712.
da Costa Nunez, R. & Schrager, W. (2000). New York: Institute for Children and Poverty, Inc.
Cooper is a mouse who loses his home in a cheese shop when the owner becomes ill. He meets a group of children living in a shelter who invite Cooper to stay with them. Working together, Cooper and the children develop a love for reading. A happy ending awaits them all.
Fly Away Home
Bunting, E & Himler, R.
Houghton Mifflin Company (1991) New York: Clarion Books.
This
children's picture book is about a homeless boy who lives in an airport with
his father, moving from terminal to terminal, trying not to be noticed. He is
given hope when he sees a trapped bird, in the airport terminal, find its
freedom. Reading Rainbow produced a
segment featuring the book, which is available on video. (ALA Notable book)
Homeless
Bernard Wolf
Orchard Books, 1995
This
children's book with vivid, full-color photographs documents a family in New
York City living in temporary housing while searching for permanent housing.
I Can Hear the
Sun
Patricia Polacco
Philomel Books, 1996
This
children's picture book is about a homeless boy, Fondo, who believes that geese
want him to fly away with him and his friend Stephanie Michelle.
Jonathan London
Penguin Books USA Inc., 1995
This
grade-school novel is the story of Aaron and his father who endure tough times
on the streets of California. While trying to find a real home for themselves,
Aaron and his father spend time in a homeless shelter. Aaron is able to survive
the troubles of finding a home by using his "million-dollar
imagination" and by meeting a new friend.
No Place to
Be: Voices of Homeless Children
Judith Berck
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992
This
book on family homelessness combines facts with the real life experiences of
more than thirty homeless children living in shelters and welfare hotels. No Place to Be explains what it means
to be deprived of the things that most take for granted such as school, space,
privacy, control over one's life, nutrition, health care and safety.
Our Wish
da Costa Nunez, R. (1997).
New York: Institute for Children and Poverty, Inc.
Follow Mrs. Bun E. and her children as this rabbit family loses their home and moves to the animal shelter. Activity book also available.
Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen
DiSalvo-Ryan, D.
(1991). New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN: 0688-09165-2
An elementary-aged boy has a day off from school and goes to the soup kitchen with his uncle who works there. The issue of homelessness in a community is dealt with in a sensitive and respectful manner. The boy is initially hesitant about encountering a homeless man, but after watching his uncle at the soup kitchen, he realizes that homeless people are not unusual or different—they are normal, just like him. (Picture book)
A bibliography of
educational resources on homelessness for elementary school students and
teachers is part of the Forget Me Not 2001 materials on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
Included are fiction and non-fiction books, videos, and website. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/fmn2001/elemresources.html.
Books for students, bibliography. An extensive
list of children’s books is on the Project Hope, Virginia’s Homeless Education
Program web site. Page B9.
Children’s Literature on Homelessness. Grade levels not given, includes elementary and middle books. A bibliography, compiled by Miami-Dade County Public School, that is included in Appendix O, pages 205-207, in the Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit, National Center for Homeless Education at Serve.
¨ Understanding homeless and vocabulary, Lesson Plan I, 7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Over
750,000 school-age children and youth are homeless every night, page 32:
7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities. This material includes a handout
asking students to guess counts for state, county, school district, and school.
¨ What do you know about homelessness?, page 38: 7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities. Includes a handout with true or false questions.
Educational resources
¨ Middle: An annotated listing of books, fiction and non-fiction, videos and web sites on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site. A link was not available to go directly to the listings. The link provided goes to the web site. A curriculum packet for Middle Schools may be ordered.
¨
How does
it feel to be homeless, page 36: 7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
¨
What
it feels like to be homeless, Lesson Plan III,
7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Feel
what home means to them, Lesson Plan V, 7-9,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Comparing
our life with homeless people’s life, Lesson Plan IV, 7-9,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
Legislation, Rules (Rights
of homeless students)
¨
Letter Writing, lesson 7, 7-12.
Students learn about homeless issues by writing letter to express their
opinions to local, state, and national officials. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Where do
the children sleep, page 34: 5-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities. Includes
a handout to be completed by students.
¨
Rural
homelessness, Lesson
Plan VIII, 7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Exploring Myths and Stereotypes
About Homelessness: 5-12. Students will learn about homelessness by
exploring myths and stereotypes. Located on the National Coalition for the
Homeless web site.
¨
Myths and
Facts about Homelessness, page 25: 5-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
¨
Understanding
needs, Lesson Plan II,
7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Personal
experiences of homelessness. 7-12, possibly upper elementary. Real life
stories of people who experienced homelessness. An excellent reference is the Sjoblom
family testimony. The story relates events that led to homelessness and
experiences while homeless.
¨
Why
some youth can’t go home, Lesson Plan XII, 6,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
¨
Why
some youth can’t go home, Lesson Plan VII,
7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
Understanding
homelessness
¨ America’s Homeless Children: Educational Information for Students, Teachers and Parents: 6-12. This is a fact sheet that could be assigned reading material and discussed in class or part of a research project. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Understanding Homelessness Through
Poetry and Photographs: Lesson 3. 6-12. Students will learn about
homelessness by listening to poetry and looking at photographs. Located on the
National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Learning From The Experts:
Lesson 5. 6-12. Emphasize the reality of homelessness by inviting a homeless
person, someone who works at a shelter or local homeless coalition to the
classroom. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Learning
and Examining Homelessness and Poverty Through Novels: Lesson 4. 7-12. Students will
learn and examine homelessness and poverty through the depiction of these
issues in novels. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
What Home Means To Me: Tile Mosaic
Project: Lesson 1. K-12. Students will think about and express what home
means to them. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Walking Around in
Someone Else's Shoes: K-6. Located on the National Coalition for the
Homeless web site.
¨
Filling a Trash Bag:
7-12Why parents may not have important documents. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Lesson Plan VII,
4-6, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
¨
Lesson Plan I, 7-9,
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
Vulnerability to becoming
homeless
¨
Calculating a Poverty
Line: 7-12. An exercise computing how much money is needed to stay above
the poverty line. It is located on the National Center for Homeless Education
web site.
¨
How Vulnerable Are You
to Becoming Homeless?: 7-12, possibly upper elementary. Includes a survey
illustrating factors that can lead to homelessness. It is located on the
National Center for Homeless Education web site.
¨
Unexpected
expenses, Optional
Lesson, 7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.
What you can do to help:
¨ Student-run food bank. Elementary students developed a food bank. A service learning program. Page 94. On the Pennsylvania Department of Education web site.
¨
Kids
That Care" Kits, Lesson 6: K-12. Students develop and create "kids
that care" kits for homeless people and families. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Imagine
the Possibilities: 7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
¨ What schools can do, page 27
¨ Planning an awareness campaign, page 29
¨ Designing a resource brochure for parents, page 30
¨ How can we support homeless children, page 41
¨ Planning a visit to a homeless shelter, page 45
¨
Posters:
These posters convey important information and list persons that can be
contacted for help. As a community service project, students could distribute
them throughout the community. Another source of posters is http://www.serve.org/nche/CommAware/poster2.html
¨
What You Can Do to Help Homeless
Children & Families: Ideas for Kids, Classrooms, and Schools: K-12.
Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
M. Chalofsky, G. Finland, and J. Wallace. (1992) Gryphon
House, Inc., 3706 Otis Street, Mt. Rainier, Maryland 20712.
Homelessness
Sara Dixon Criswell
Lucent Books, 1998
This
middle school level book covers topics including the causes of homelessness,
life on the streets, the shelter system, homeless children and help for
homeless people.
Gracie’s
Girl
Bess Cunningham is a rising sixth-grader who wants to be
noticed in middle school. She tries to draw attention to herself through
stylish clothes, but it is her work with a homeless shelter that gets her
noticed. The story deals with friend dynamics, family dynamics, school
relationships, personal interests, and how they all weave together to form an
individual. Bess encounters many of the dilemmas common to middle-schoolers,
such as seeing a friend start dating. The biggest challenge Bess faces is
dealing with the death of a homeless lady that she befriended. (Chapter book)
Books for students, bibliography. An extensive
list of children’s books is on the Project Hope, Virginia’s Homeless Education
Program web site. Page B9.
Children’s
Literature on Homelessness. Grade levels not given, includes elementary and
middle books. A bibliography, compiled by Miami-Dade County Public School, that
is included in Appendix O, pages 205-207, in the Local Homeless Education
Liaison Toolkit, National Center for Homeless Education at Serve.
¨
McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act: High school. This power point presents awareness
information and the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Also helpful suggestions for using the power point is in Appendix N, page
177, of Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit. It includes sensitivity
lessons, speaker notes, presenters tip sheet and handouts.
¨
Over
750,000 school-age children and youth are homeless every night, page 32 :
7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities. This material includes a handout
asking students to guess counts for state, county, school district, and school.
¨
What do
you know about homelessness? page 38: 7-12. WestEd, Imagine the
Possibilities. Includes a handout with true or false questions.
¨
High School:
An annotated listing of books, fiction and non-fiction, videos and web sites on
the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
America's Homeless Children: Issues
Before Congress, May 2000. High School. This is a fact sheet that could be
assigned reading material and discussed in class or part of a research project.
Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
How does
it feel to be homeless, page 36: 7-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
Legislation, Rules (Rights
of homeless students)
¨
Letter Writing, lesson 7: 7-12.
Students learn about homeless issues by writing letters to express their
opinions to local, state, and national officials. Located on the National
Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Vignettes of Homeless
Students and Families: High school. An exercise that asks school personnel
"What would you do if . . ." (followed by a scenario) that is
designed for use with school personnel to make sure that they understand the
rights of homeless students and the legal responsibilities of school districts.
This could be adapted to be used with high school students. They are located on
the National Center for Homeless Education web site.
¨
Where do
the children sleep, page 34: 5-12. WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
Includes a handout to be completed by students.
¨
Exploring Myths and Stereotypes
About Homelessness: 5-12. Students will learn about homelessness by
exploring myths and stereotypes. Located on the National Coalition for the
Homeless web site.
¨
Myths and
Facts about Homelessness, page 25 WestEd, Imagine the Possibilities.
¨
Personal experiences of homelessness. 7-12, possibly upper elementary. Real life
stories of people who experienced homelessness. An excellent reference is the Sjoblom
family testimony. The story relates events that led to homelessness and
experiences while homeless.
¨
Why
some youth can’t go home, Lesson Plan VII,
7-9, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
|
|
|
Understanding
homelessness
¨ America’s Homeless Children: Educational Information for Students, Teachers and Parents: 6-12. This is a fact sheet that could be assigned reading material and discussed in class or part of a research project. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Understanding Homelessness Through
Poetry and Photographs: Lesson 3. 6-12. Students will learn about
homelessness by listening to poetry and looking at photographs. Located on the
National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Learning From The Experts:
Lesson 5. 6-12. Emphasize the reality of homelessness by inviting a homeless
person, someone who works at a shelter or local homeless coalition to the
classroom. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
Learning
and Examining Homelessness and Poverty Through Novels: Lesson 4. 7-12. Students
will learn and examine homelessness and poverty through the depiction of these
issues in novels. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.
¨
What Home Means To Me: Tile Mosaic
Project: Lesson 1. K-12. Students will think about and express what home
means to them. Located on the National Coalition for the Homeless web site.