Core Values Literature Connection
Elementary
Quarter 3
The Core Values Literature Connection Guide will assist teachers in infusing Miami-Dade County Public
Schools’ Core Values throughout the ELA curriculum. The document is aligned to the District Pacing
Guides for the 2015-2016 school year. It is designed to help teachers make connections between literature
and the District’s Core Values.
Kindergarten
Week/Dates
Text
27
Mischievous Goat
3/7-3/11
28
The Perfect Pet
3/14-3/18
Core Value
Connection
Responsibility
The baby goat gets scolded for the mischievous
things he did.
Responsibility
After getting the perfect pet, the girls take turns caring
for Racer.
Grade 1
Week/Dates
Text
Core Value
21
1/25-1/29
A Tale of a Tail
Kindness
21
1/25-1/29
How Bat Got Its
Wings
Cooperation/Kindness
22
2/1-2/5
A Team of Fish
22
2/1-2/5
22
2/1-2/5
24
2/15-2/19
24
2/15-2/19
25
2/22-2/6
25
2/22-2/6
Cooperation
Animal Teams
Cooperation
Busy as a Bee
Cooperation
Hi! Fly Guy
Kindness
Creep Low, Fly
High
Pursuit of Excellence
Koko and Penny
Cooperation/Kindness
Saving Mountain
Gorillas
Responsibility/
Cooperation/Kindness
Connection
When a tree falls on Ray’s tail, it turned flat. Although
he wasn’t happy at first, the sun reminds him of the
benefits of having a flat tail and made Ray happy
once again.
The birds do not let Gray Bat play because he doesn’t
have wings. The birds build wings for Gray Bat and
his new wings helped the birds win.
Fish swim together, look for food together, and
help each other. They swim close together in a
school to keep big fish away.
Ants carry caterpillars to safety, while zebras and
wildebeest help each other find food and warn of
danger. Animal teams work together and help each
other.
Bees in a hive all have jobs that help the hive. A big
hive is a busy place!
Boy and fly meet and so begins a beautiful friendship.
Little caterpillar feels bad about himself because all of
the other insects can hop, buzz, and zip around, while
he can only creep. With time, caterpillar goes missing
and returns as a beautiful butterfly and laughs with his
friends.
Koko and Penny have laughed and played together.
Dr. Helen Gichohi of the African Wildlife Foundaiton
works to save gorillas from hunters.
27
3/7-3/11
A Lost Button
Kindness/Cooperation
29
3/28-4/1
The Story of a
Robot Inventor
Pursuit of Excellence
29
3/28-4/1
Thomas Edison,
Inventor
Pursuit of Excellence
30
4/4-4/8
Whistle for Willie
Pursuit of Excellence
When Toad notices a button has fallen off his jacket,
Frog and Toad retrace their steps to the meadow, the
woods, and the stream where they had walked. Frog,
a sparrow, and a raccoon all find buttons, but none of
them are Toad's missing button. Eventually, Toad
gets so mad over not finding his button that he runs
home...and discovers his missing button had fallen off
before the walk. To make it up to Frog for the wild
goose chase, Toad not only sews his button back on
his jacket, but sews on the other buttons they'd found
as well and gives it to Frog the next day.
Mr. Takahashi uses his imagination to create special
robots that can swim, ride bikes, and run.
Thomas Edison invented many things that helped
people. At that time, burning gas lights lit homes and
streets and sometimes fire from the lights burned a
home down. Thomas Edison made a safe electric
light. Everyone wanted electric lights in their homes.
He also invented the first machine that could record
sounds and play them back and the first machine for
viewing films.
If Peter could only learn to whistle, then his dog, Willie
would hear him and come running. But nothing Peter
does seems to help. He tries spinning around and
around but it only makes him dizzy. He draws a long
line with colored chalk; he walks along a crack in the
sidewalk. He even wears his father's hat and tries
running away from his own shadow! It's not until Peter
least expects it that his wish comes true, and he
blows a whistle that brings Willie running!
Grade 2
Week/Dates
Text
Core Value
23-24
2/8-2/19
Dear Primo: A
Letter to My
Cousin
25-26
2/22-3/4
Why the Sun and
the Moon Live in
the Sky
Kindness
25-26
2/22-3/4
How the Beetle
Got Her Colors
Kindness/Fairness
Fairness
Connection
Two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico,
exchange letters and share how their daily lives are
different, yet similar.
Sun and Moon made their house bigger in order to
accommodate for Water, their very large guest. Once
Water arrived, Sun and Moon had to scramble onto
the roof, where they still remain and shine down on
Water.
Agouti makes fun of Beetle for being plain and dull.
When Parrot proposes a race with the prize of a
beautiful new coat of any color for the winner, Beetle
wins, because he used his wings.much to the surprise
of Agouti.
The tale of Agouti and Beetle shows us the wisdom of
not making fun of others and that even a plain little
creature may have some hidden power.
25-26
2/22-3/4
How the Finch Got
Its Colors
27-28
3/7-3/18
A Difficult
Decision
27-28
3/7-3/18
Grace for
President
27-28
3/7-3/18
Helping to Make
Smiles
29-30
3/28-4/8
Cesar Chavez
29-30
3/28-4/8
Brave Bessie
29-30
3/28-4/8
The Legend of
Kate Shelley
Finch gets pushed aside by the other birds when he
tries to get his color, so King Bird, a wise leader tells
Kindness/Fairness
each of the other birds to give a colorful feather to
Finch.
When Wyatt finds a GameMaster, he debates
whether or not to return it to the owner. Although he
Citizenship/Honesty/Integrity
would love to keep it, Wyatt returns the GameMaster
and promises to always try to do the right thing.
When Grace's teacher reveals that the United States
has never had a female president, Grace decides to
be the first. And she immediately starts off her
Citizenship
political career as a candidate the school's mock
election!
Matthew, a young citizen attends Camp Smiles, a
camp for children with disabilities are able to ride
horses, play basketball, and swim. Since not all
Citizenship/Responsibility children can afford to go to this special camp,
Matthew decided to get involved in his community
and challenge people to give money. The money
would pay for 30 children to attend Camp Smiles.
Cesar worked on the family farm as a young boy.
Upon moving to California, Cesar learned that migrant
farm workers were treated unfairly. They worked long
hours for little pay and had difficult life.
Cesar Chavez took action and convinced migrant
Respect/Integrity
workers to strike. He spoke about treating workers
fairly. Through his actions, Cesar Chavez improved
the life of migrant workers and won the U.S. Medal of
Freedom.
Bessie Coleman walked four miles to school and four
miles back and never gave up on her dream to
become a pilot. She became the first AfricanAmerican women to earn a pilot’s license and opened
Pursuit of Excellence
a school for other African-Americans to learn to fly. By
the time she died in 1929, she had earned the
nickname “Brave Bessie”.
When Kate Shelley learned that a crash caused the
bridge to break, she knew she had to stop the
midnight train because the engineer would not know
the bridge was out. Kate Shelley risked her life in a
Integrity/Responsibility
storm to prevent a train disaster was able to stop to
midnight train. Through her actions, she saved the
lives of hundreds of people.
Grade 3
Week/Dates
Text
Core Value
22-23
2/1-2/12
The Impossible
Pet Show
Pursuit of Excellence
Connection
Daniel was nervous when he is chosen to be the
announcer at his friend’s pet show. He not only
22-23
2/1-2/12
The Talented
Clementine
Pursuit of Excellence
22-23
2/1-2/12
Clementine and
the Family Meeting
Kindness
24-25
2/15-2/26
Little Half Chick
Kindness
26
2/29-3/4
The Giant
Pursuit of Excellence
26
2/29-3/4
The Winningest
Woman of the
Iditarod Dog Sled
Race
Pursuit of Excellence
27-28
3/7-3/18
29-30
3/28-4/8
29-30
3/28-4/8
conquers his fear of pets, but also of speaking in
public. Suddenly, Daniel has discovered his talent
and the pets actually listen to him as well.
Clementine panics when she learns that there will be
a talent show at school. She doesn't sing, dance, or
play an instrument. And as if she didn't feel bad
enough, her perfect best friend, Margaret, has so
many talents.
As the night of the big "Talent-palooza" draws closer,
Clementine is desperate for an act, any act. But the
unexpected talent she demonstrates at the show
surprises everyone — most of all herself.
Clementine's having a nervous breakdown. The
FAMILY MEETING! sign is up in her house, and she
just knows she's in trouble for something.
Clementine is not content when she is told that she
would have a baby brother. After all, four is the
perfect number for a family. Clementine learns that
life is “always moving fast and we’re never ready, but
somehow that’s just perfect.”
Little Half Chick faces many challenges, one eye, one
wing, and one leg. However, as he walks along
Mexico City, he helps the stream, the fire, and the
wind. When Little Half Chick was in trouble, the
grateful wind carried him safely to the top of the
highest tower in Mexico City. Always help someone is
need because you don’t know when you’ll need help.
The narrator shows that you do not need to be tall to
be a great basketball player. The “giant” serves as an
inspiration to the team.
Susan Butcher faces challenging conditions to run the
race from Anchorage to Nome. People, can do things
that seem difficult or impossible
FSA Preparation
The New Hoop
Bravo Tavo!
Cooperation/Respect
Marco and Kim reuse an old laundry basket and turned
it into a basketball hoop, since the Parks Department
was unable to buy a new hoop.
In a small Mexican village, Tavo dreams of being a
basketball star. He feels handicapped by his ductPursuit of Excellence/Kindness/ taped sneakers; however, with the whole summer to
Responsibility
practice, he isn't discouraged. When his father needs
him to help clear irrigation ditches to bring water to
their parched crops, Tavo must forgo his basketball
plans. After several weeks, the hard labor pays off,
and the crops are saved. However, Tavo is now
without sneakers, and he is unable to practice with the
other kids. While Tavo is getting the people in the
village to acknowledge that his father's idea could
solve their water problems, his sneakers are beautifully
repaired by an old woman and is the hero of the next
game!
Grade 4
Week/Dates
21
1/18-1/29
Text
Core Value
Judy’s Appalachia
Integrity
21
1/18-1/29
Delivering Justice:
W.W. Law and the
Fight for Civil
Rights
Integrity
21
1/18-1/29
Keeping Freedom
in the Family:
Coming of Age in
the Civil Rights
Movement
Integrity
22-23
2/1-2/12
Words for Change
Integrity/Citizenship
22-23
2/1-2/12
Abe’s Honest
Words: The Life of
Abraham Lincoln
Honesty/Integrity/Citizenship
22-23
2/1-2/12
A New Birth of
Freedom
Citizenship/Respect
Connection
Judy Bonds takes a stand against coal mining
companies. In protests, she faced anger and insults.
Instead of boycotting, she pushed for changed to be
made to the coal mining process. She was awarded
the Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts as
an activist.
W.W. Law assisted blacks in registering to vote,
joined the NAACP and trained protestors in the use
of nonviolent civil disobedience, and, in 1961, and
orchestrated the Great Savannah Boycott and was
instrumental in bringing equality to his Georgia
community. Savannah eventually became the first
city in the south to end racial discrimination due to
the work of W.W. Law.
Nora Davis’ parents used their lives as actors to
make a difference. They got their children involved in
protesting injustice.
Together with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton was committed to helping women gain the
right to vote. Her passion for equal rights paved the
way for future women’s lives to be changed forever.
Abraham Lincoln used his wartime powers as
president to free enslaved people. He spoke
honestly against slavery and later convinced
lawmakers to outlaw the practice throughout the
United States. Lincoln used his words to remind
Americans why they were fighting and helped unite
the country.
Through the Gettysburg Address in 1863,
Abraham Lincoln honored the American soldiers
who had died in the Battle of Gettysburg and asked
Americans to honor them by working toward a “new
birth of freedom”, in which a “government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth.”
25
2/22-2/26
Pursuit of Excellence
This story explores the consequences of a world
without rules or laws. It explains that we need our
government to maintain order and preserve our
democracy.
A presidential election is coming up and everyone is
talking about it – on TV, in class, over the dinner
table. This comical book explains our country’s
elective process— from the birth of our democracy
and the Electoral College to front porch campaigning
and hanging chads. It may encourage students to
involved and have their own voices heard.
The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, which
formed our new nation. They decided on three
branches of government, and added the Bill of
Rights. The Bill of Rights guarantees important
personal rights such as freedom of speech and
religion.
Politicians continually revisit this founding document
to ensure that all people are treated equally in our
democracy.
A young boy practices playing the piano for months
while telling himself “I can do this.” He eventually is
able to blend the sounds and make the keys “sing to
him.”
The narrator in this poem has repeatedly tried to
climb a tree, but she loses her grip and slides down.
One day, she is finally able to climb, pull herself up,
and experience success.
The novice swimmer learns that you can conquer
your fears if you believe you can.
Pursuit of Excellence
The narrator watches TV as Neil Armstrong steps on
the moon, marking a moment in human history.
A World Without
Rules
Citizenship
25
2/22-2/26
See How They
Run
Citizenship
25
2/22-2/26
The Birth of
American
Democracy
Citizenship
27
3/7-3/11
Sing to Me
Pursuit of Excellence
27
3/7-3/11
The Climb
Pursuit of Excellence
27
3/7-3/11
27
3/7-3/11
Swimming to the
Rock
The Moondust
Footprint
27
3/7-3/11
Genius
Pursuit of Excellence
27
3/7-3/11
Winner
Pursuit of Excellence
28
3/14-3/18
My Name is Ivy
Pursuit of Excellence
The speaker is worried about whether or not his
sister will approve of the poem he has written. After
hearing it, she approves!
The young baseball player is worried about whether
or not he will get a hit after two missed swings and
two foul balls. With his father cheering him on, he
experiences personal triumph and makes his father
smile as he makes the winning run.
The narrator’s mother tells why she named her
daughter Ivy. She expressed that ivy vines hold on
to anything, ad that it will go wherever it wants, even
up to the stars. The mother is saying that she wants
her child to adapt to any situation and go where she
wants to go in life. She doesn’t want anything to hold
the child back from reaching her dreams.
28
3/14-3/18
28
3/14-3/18
28
3/14-3/18
Grandpa steps out of the car to pick up toads and
move them out of the road. The old man shows
Birdfoot’s Grampa
Respect/Kindness
respect for living things by taking them out of harm’s
way.
The young girl watches her mother work for long
From My
hours every day sewing pants and dresses. She
Responsibility
Chinatown
learns that hard work is a part of life and tradition.
The young speaker in the poem looks forward to one
Growing Up
Respect/ Pursuit of Excellence day being like her mom, loving, wise, and a good
cook!
29-30
3/28-4/8
FSA Preparation
Grade 5
Week/Dates
Text
Core Value
24-25
2/15-2/26
Frederick
Douglass:
Freedom’s Voice
Integrity/Citizenship
24-25
2/15-2/26
Rosa
Integrity/ Citizenship
24-25
2/15-2/26
Our Voices, Our
Votes
Integrity/Citizenship
27
3/7-3/11
Ida B
Responsibility
27
3/7-3/11
A Dusty Ride
Kindness
Connection
Living in slavery until the age of 20, Frederick
Douglass escaped to the North where he met
abolitionists whose ideas inspired him. Shortly after,
he began speaking against slavery throughout New
England and the Midwest. Frederick Douglass also
started an abolitionist newspaper that spoke about
the unequal status of women. Frederick became a
great civil rights leader in spite of his difficult
beginning in life.
By refusing to give up her seat on a crowded bus,
Rosa Parks changed our nation by forcing the
Supreme Court to acknowledge that segregation
was wrong. The reader learns that people can bring
about a positive change by not giving in to what is
wrong.
Women fought hard for the right to vote. They
protested, rallied, signed petitions, hired lobbyists to
speak to politicians for them, and broke the law by
voting. These movements led to new laws that
granted equal rights for women in 1920.
Ida B. Applewood believes there is never enough
time for fun. She's happy to be homeschooled and to
spend every free second outside with the trees and
her books. Then some not-so-great things happen in
her world. Ida B has to go back to school. Her
perspective changes when she does a great job of a
reading a story to her class. She learns that going to
new places, meeting new people, and trying new
things can all change the way we see ourselves and
the world around us.
Ravi and his family have moved to a farmhouse
outside the city. He feels bored and lonely because
he can’t do the things he enjoyed in the city. After
28
3/14-3/18
29-30
3/28-4/8
A Time to Talk
Kindness
meeting Lila, his neighbor, he is asked if he would
like to ride Dusty, her horse. After riding a horse for
the first time, Ravi changed his outlook of his new
home.
The speaker stops work and makes time to talk with
a visiting friend.
FSA Preparation