A 5-day, ready-to-teach read-aloud unit that combines rich discussion, layered texts, writing, and opportunities for students to build knowledge, think deeply, and make meaningful connections.

Go beyond the picture book with carefully selected layered texts that extend students’ thinking, build background knowledge, and deepen connections to the themes of “The Name Jar.”

Bring “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi into your Grades 1–3 classroom with this thoughtful, discussion-rich literacy unit.

Through interactive read-alouds, layered texts, collaborative discussion, and purposeful writing, students explore identity, names, culture, belonging, diversity, empathy, and the importance of feeling comfortable being yourself.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 5 complete read-aloud lessons

• Learning goals & success criteria

• Essential question

• Before-, during-, and after-reading discussion prompts

• Connections to Gholdy Muhammad’s 5 Pursuits

• 10 Community Circle questions

• Comprehension strategy prompts for predicting, connecting, inferring, and noticing details

• Discussion prompts to build empathy and understanding

• Carefully selected layered texts

• Quick Write prompts for reflection and writing responses

• Collaborative anchor chart ideas

• Differentiated tasks for Grades 1–3

• Follow-up activities to extend thinking

• Opportunities for oral language and meaningful discussion

• Ready-to-print materials

LAYERED TEXTS

Go beyond the picture book with additional texts and media that help students:

• Build background knowledge

• Explore identity, names, and belonging from different perspectives

• Make connections between texts and ideas

• Extend their thinking beyond the story

• Consider the importance of names and personal identity

• Connect the themes of the book to their own lives and classroom community

STUDENTS WILL EXPLORE

• Identity and self-expression

• Names and their connection to identity

• Culture and family traditions

• Belonging and inclusion

• Diversity and cultural awareness

• Empathy and understanding

• The importance of respecting people’s names and identities

• How experiences can shape the way we see ourselves

• Ways we can create a classroom where everyone feels welcomed and valued

PERFECT FOR

• Interactive read-aloud instruction

• Whole-class literacy

• Oral language and discussion

• Identity and belonging

• Cultural awareness

• Building classroom community

• Beginning-of-year instruction

• Back-to-school literacy

• Culturally responsive literacy instruction

• Writing and discussion

• Grades 1, 2, and 3

WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS RESOURCE

• Saves hours of planning time

• Ready to print and teach

• Promotes rich classroom discussion

• Encourages meaningful student reflection

• Supports differentiated instruction

• Builds comprehension, writing, and oral communication

• Creates authentic connections between literacy and students’ lives