Heroes Like Harvey Milk: Using LGBTQ-Themed Literature to Promote Critical Literacy and Social Justice in Fifth Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies

Author

Jamie CarmackFollow

Date of Award

Fall 9-14-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Curriculum and Instruction (MAE)

First Committee Member

Dee Knoblauch

Advisor

Diane Ross

Second Committee Member

Bethany Vosburg-Bluem

Keywords

Harvey Milk, LGBTQ-Themed Literature, Critical Literacy, Social Justice, English Language Arts, Social Studies

Subject Categories

Curriculum and Instruction | Curriculum and Social Inquiry | Education | Elementary Education | Higher Education | Language and Literacy Education

Abstract

The purpose of this curriculum development project is to help practicing English Language Arts and Social Studies teachers in grade 5 construct and develop content-area curriculums that reinforce and support both critical literacy and social justice pedagogical frameworks for teaching and learning. This particular curriculum development project also addresses the ways in which English Language Arts and Social Studies teachers in grade 5 can use LGBTQ-themed curricular materials to not only promote critical literacy and social justice frameworks for teaching and learning but to also meet the Common Core State Standards (CCSS, 2010) for English Language Arts, Ohio’s Learning Standards (OLS, 2018) for Social Studies, and the Social Justice Standards (SJS, 2018) that were developed by the Teaching Tolerance project. In addition, this proposed curriculum development project reflects Gorski’s (2010) key characteristics of a multicultural curriculum which ultimately serve as a guide for the development and implementation of a three-week unit plan that focuses on the life and societal contributions of Harvey Milk: the first openly gay elected official in the history of California. Essentially, this type of unit plan demonstrates to practicing English Language Arts and Social Studies teachers in grade 5 how they can infuse critical pedagogical choices into their content-area curriculums in a way that successfully aligns with state standards.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

Recommended Citation

Carmack, Jamie, "Heroes Like Harvey Milk: Using LGBTQ-Themed Literature to Promote Critical Literacy and Social Justice in Fifth Grade English Language Arts and Social Studies" (2021). Masters Theses/Capstone Projects. 97.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_master/97