Teachers may decide to introduce the topics of poverty and health equity by reading books aloud to the students prior to starting the activities in the lesson plan. Reading a book to the students will develop background knowledge and start to focus student thinking. Teachers can read the book aloud to the students to start developing the concepts covered in the different activities. Books might be available in the library at your school or school board or at the local library.
| Name of book | Description | Discussion questions |
|---|---|---|
| Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts | The main character would like a new pair of shoes (“those shoes”) that his friends and classmates have. His grandmother says, “There’s no room for ‘want’ around here—just ‘need’.” He is given a pair of shoes (not the pair of shoes he desired) at school and gets laughed at by others because of the shoes. He does get a pair of “those shoes” (at a thrift store), but they are too small. He ends up giving those shoes to another boy whose shoes are falling apart. | • What is a thrift store? • Why is he gripping the pencil harder? • What is a want vs a need? • Why didn’t Antonio not laugh at Mr. Alfey’s shoes? |
| Yard Sale by Eve Bunting | Callie’s family is having a yard sale because they have to move from their house to a small apartment. Callie doesn’t understand why they have to move and that she can’t take everything that is important to her. | • How are Callie’s parents trying to help Callie feel better about moving? • What might be the reasons why the family has to move? What makes you think that? • What would be an item that you would never want to part with and why? |
| Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson | A new girl, Maya, arrives at school and her classmates notice her worn clothes and broken shoes and funny food. None of her classmates play with her or are kind to her. Too late, one classmate realizes that one should always take the opportunity to be kind. | • How is Maya different than the other students in the class? • How would being different from others make you feel? Why? • Why do you think she had to leave? • What could the students have done differently to make Maya feel included? • What do we need to do to help each other feel like each of us belongs? |
| Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen | A young boy, not allowed to have a dog because times are tight, finds a starving kitten in a trash can on the same day his father loses his job. | • See Introducing Poverty lesson plan activity for more details. |
| Name of book | Description | Discussion questions |
|---|---|---|
| Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts | The main character would like a new pair of shoes (“those shoes”) that his friends and classmates have. His grandmother says, “There’s no room for ‘want’ around here–just ‘need’.” He is given a pair of shoes (not the pair of shoes he desired) at school and gets laughed at by others because of the shoes. He ends up getting a pair of “those shoes” (at a thrift store), but they are too small. He ends up giving those shoes to another boy whose shoes are falling apart. | • What is a thrift store? • Why is he gripping the pencil harder? • What is a want vs a need? • Why didn’t Antonio not laugh at Mr. Alfey’s shoes? • What is the importance of ‘fitting in’? |
| Yard Sale by Eve Bunting | Callie’s family is having a yard sale as they have to move from their house to a small apartment. Callie doesn’t understand why they have to move and that she has to let go of things that are important to her. | • How are Callie’s parents trying to help Callie feel better about moving? • What might be the reasons why the family has to move? What makes you think that? • What would be an item that you would never want to part with and why? |
| Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson | A new girl, Maya, arrives at school and her classmates notice her worn clothes and broken shoes and funny food. None of her classmates play with her or are kind to her. Too late one classmate realizes that one should always take the opportunity to be kind. | • How is Maya different than the other students in the class? • How would being different from others make you feel? Why? • What do you think was Maya’s story? • Why do you think she had to leave? |
| Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting | A homeless boy lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom. | • If his father has a job on the weekends, why do they live in the airport? • Why is the boy angry at the other people in the airport? • Why is the boy encouraging the bird to fly away? • How would that affect you, always trying not to be noticed? • Introduction to homelessness/poverty, etc. |
| Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen | A young boy, not allowed to have a dog because times are tight, finds a starving kitten in a trash can on the same day his father loses his job. | • What does the title “Tight Times” mean to you? • Why is that term hard for the little boy to understand? • Why did the parents want the boy to go outside so that they could talk? • The father started to cry. Why was this so scary to the boy? • Why did the parents let the boy keep the cat? • Do you agree with their decision? Why/why not? |
| Name of book | Description | Discussion questions |
|---|---|---|
| The Lunch Thief by Anne C. Bromley | Lunches have been going missing in class since the new student started. Rafael finds out the reason why and then has a choice to make. | • Ask students to write about the actions and motivations of the two main characters. • “Use your mouth before your fists”—Write the meaning of this idiom in the context of the story. • This book isn’t about stealing even though its title is “The Lunch Thief”. What is it really about? |
| How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor | A girl gets the idea to steal a dog in order to get the money for “finding” the dog because her family has to live in their car. | • What do you think of the plan to steal the dog? • Would there ever be a time when it would be okay to do something like that? • What characteristics would you use to describe Georgina? • How and why does Georgina change from the beginning of the story to the end? • What does it mean to “feel normal” and why is it important? |
| Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting | A homeless boy lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal trying not to be noticed, is given hope when a trapped bird finally finds its freedom. | • If his father has a job on the weekends, why do they live in the airport? • Why is the boy angry at the other people in the airport? • Why is the boy encouraging the bird to fly away? • What does the bird symbolize? • How would it affect you, always trying not to be noticed? |
| Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen | A young boy, not allowed to have a dog because times are tight, finds a starving kitten in a trash can on the same day his father loses his job. | • What does the title “Tight Times” mean to you? • Why is that term hard for the little boy to understand? • Why did the parents want the boy to go outside so that they could talk? • The father started to cry. Why was this so scary to the boy? • Why did the parents let the boy keep the cat? • Do you agree with their decision? Why/why not? |
This page was last updated June 26, 2026