Unit 4: Belonging and Acceptance Belonging in Books™ Bundle

Belonging in Books Unit 4 Bundle: Belonging and Acceptance

If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-impact way to bring purposeful comprehension instruction into your PreK–1 classroom or homeschool, this resource is for you! Part of the Belonging in Books curriculum, this unit supports deep thinking, joyful reading, and inclusive discussion using 8 powerful anchor texts:

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien
Islandborn by Junot Díaz
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

This bundle of books focuses on the theme of belonging and acceptance, helping students explore identity, community, and the importance of embracing differences. Throughout this unit, students will focus on making connections between the story and their own lives, identifying character feelings and traits, and understanding how settings, relationships, and experiences shape a character’s sense of belonging. As students engage with both fiction and nonfiction texts, they will practice visualizing, making predictions, identifying main idea and key details, and determining the author’s message. By comparing multiple stories that highlight diverse perspectives and experiences, students will build empathy, deepen comprehension skills, and develop a stronger understanding of themselves and others as valued members of a community.

Each Belonging in Books unit is built around a high-quality read-aloud and carefully designed to:
✔️ Teach comprehension through rich, age-appropriate conversations
✔️ Build vocabulary and language skills in context
✔️ Explore story elements and text structures
✔️ Practice key comprehension strategies
✔️ Support synthesis using a paired companion text
✔️ Center student voices and diverse perspectives

What’s Included:
5-day lesson arc (20–30 minutes/day):

• Day 1: Connect & First Read
• Day 2: Vocabulary Exploration
• Day 3: Story Elements or Text Structure
• Day 4: Comprehension Skill
• Day 5: Paired Text & Synthesis Discussion

+Semi-Scripted daily lesson plans
+Thoughtful discussion questions
+Printable graphic organizers
+Visual Vocabulary and child-friendly definitions
+No Prep student practice sheets
+Anchor chart templates
+CCSS Alignment
+Student “I Can” statements
+Lesson plans for a culminating project or hands-on response
+Companion text suggestion and extension ideas

Each book in Belonging in Books can be a stand alone week of learning, or you can dive into an entire thematic unit of quality mentor texts that connect through themes, character experiences, comprehension strategies, and text structures.

Want the entire curriculum? Grab the Complete Curriculum Bundle!