As teachers, it is so important that we teach our students tolerance, acceptance, and to embrace their differences. We want our classroom to be a place where all students feel comfortable and valued. The children’s book Mixed: A Colorful Story is a great example of appreciating diversity. We love how this is such a simple story that tackles important issues and lends itself to thoughtful discussion. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
At first, there were only three colors: red, blue and yellow. The reds were the loudest, the yellows were the brightest, and blues were the coolest. They all got along until the reds started to say there were the best. This made everyone upset and the three colors started fighting. It was decided that each color would live in different parts of the city.ย
One day Blue and Yellow become friends. The Blue liked how happy he felt with Yellow and the Yellow like how calm Blue made him feel. The two colors mixed, everything started to change. At first the other colors were not happy, they didnโt think colors should mix. Yellow and Blue made an all new color together, green. Everyone was amazed by green and started mixing as well. Soon there was a brand new city full of new colors.ย
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Mixed: A Colorful Story is a must have for all classroom libraries. We have gone through the book and selected the skills and strategies it can be used to teach including reading comprehension, writing, grammar, and social emotional learning. Check out some of our ideas below.
- Examine the theme and message of this story.
- Discuss the cause and effect of actions throughout the book.
- Have students engage in descriptive writing about their favorite color.
- Integrate poetry by having students write poems using color words.
- Teach a lesson on multiple meaning words.
- Introduce students to a new prefix and suffix.
- Discuss the importance of appreciating diversity.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
We truly think this a book that should be in all elementary classroom libraries, which is why we are so excited to have it as a Starts With a Story book companion. There are so many different lessons in this book companion so we feel confident that every teach can find something to use with their students.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
- Red: A Crayonโs Story by Michael Hall
- Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor
- Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
