Bilingual Storytime Program Plan for School-age Children
Submitted by Reforma Children and Young Adult Services Committee Member:
Oralia Garza de Cortés
THEME: HEROES
Introduction:
Introduce the theme for the story time. Talk about the word hero. Ask the children to help you
understand what it means to be a hero. Ask the children if they have any heroes. Ask them why
they think the person they name is a hero. Ask them to give an example of a heroic action taken
by someone. Introduce the story you are going to read aloud. Talk about why the person you
will be reading about is a hero/heroine.
Book Selection
Krull, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope: the Story of Cesar Chavez. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. San
Diego and New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2003.
Other Books to Display
Herrera, Juan Felipe. The Upside Down Boy/El niño de cabeza. San Francisco: Children’s Book
Press, 2000.
Mora, Pat. A Library for Juana. New York: Knopf, 2002.
________. Una biblioteca para Juana. New York: Knopf, 2002.
________. Tomas and the Library Lady. New York: Knopf, 1997.
________. Tomas y la senora de la biblioteca. Knopf, 2000.
Jimenez, Francisco. La Mariposa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
______________. La Mariposa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. (Spanish edition).
Salinas-Norman, Bobbi. The Three Pigs: Nacho, Tito, and Miguel/Los Tres Cerdos: Nacho,
Tito, y Miguel. Piñata Books, 1998.
Discussing the Story
 Ask a child to read the dictionary definition of the word hero.
 Does the person whose story you just read about meet the criteria for hero? Why?
Why not?
 Talk about your own hero.
 Talk about how ordinary people like moms, dads, uncles, aunts or grandparents can
also be one’s heroes. Ask the children to think of reasons why their mom or dad is a
hero to them.
Share a Poem
Share a poem with the children. Select an appropriate poem from any of the following poetry
collections:
Alarcón, Francisco X. Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems/Los Angeles Andan en bicicleta
y Otros Poemas de Otoño. San Francisco: Children’s Book Press. , 1999.
_________________. Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jitomates Risuenos y otros
poemas de primavera. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. San Francisco: Children’s Book
Press, 1997.
Mora, Pat, editor. Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers. Illustrated by Paula S. Barragan. New
York: Lee and Low, 2001.
Argueta, Jorge. A Movie in My Pillow/Una película en mi almohada. Illustrated by Elizabeth
Gomez. San Francisco: Children’s Book Press, 2001.
Big Words/Bold Ideas
Hero
Symbol
Bravery
Courage
Determination
Non-violence
Genius
Visualizing the Story
Using the words above as picture prompts, ask the children to illustrate a scene that depicts a
heroic action.
Supplies Needed:
Legal or letter-size paper
Pencils
Crayons/watercolors/markers/color pencils
Make and Take Crafts Project
Make a Si Se Puede! Flag
Pre-cut circles and the pattern for the Aztec bird depicted on the official flag of the United Farm
Workers’ Union. Paste unto pre-cut rectangular red ½ sheet construction paper. Have each child
make two. Paste the two together, placing a 6’’ dowel stick between them for the flagpole.
Supplies needed:
Pre-cut white circles
Pre-cut black construction paper Aztec eagles
Pre-cut red ½ sheets (fold 8 1/2 X11” paper in half)
Glue sticks
6” dowel sticks
Pencils
Magic Markers (primarily black and red markers).
WWW Connections
Viva!Cesar Chavez! A WebQuest for 3rd Grade Social Studies
www.eprentice.sdsu.edu/S03X2/guerra/cesarchavezt.html
Excellent resource for ideas/activities to engage students in the study of Cesar Chavez:
United Farm Workers of America-AFL-CIo
www.unitedfarmworkersofAmerica.com
Official web site of the union founded by Cesar Chavez. Contains accurate, historical
information with timelines, photos, and opportunities for students to be involved in continuing
Chavez’s struggle.
California Dept. of Education
Resources for Teachers
www.cde.ca.gov/cesarchavez.html
Age and grade appropriate biographies and lesson plans for the study of Cesar Chavez. This has
tie-ins to the California standards.