Deanna Boerstler

Diversity Project Summary

For my Diversity Project, I selected a book called Just a Minute by Yuyi Morales. The
recommended reading level for this book is kindergarten to second grade. The activities I have
created to accompany Just a Minute are targeted at kindergarteners. This book tells the tale of the
trickster, Seor Calavera, trying to get Grandma Beetle to come away with him on the Dia de los
Muertos. She tricks him into letting her stay another year by delaying him with ten different
medial tasks. After Grandma Beetle does each task, Seor Calavera counts it in Spanish.
The learning center I have created includes a Spanish number word activity, a skeleton
anatomy activity, a geometry and pattern activity, and a family diversity activity. The Spanish
number word activity requires students to pick a Spanish number word, match it to the
corresponding bag (modeled to look like a traditional Mexican pot), and then count the number
of objects within that bag to determine the numeral to place the Spanish number word next to on
the bulletin board. This activity addresses the diversity of language. The learning outcomes also
include one-to-one correspondence, identifying letters and numbers, and counting. This
accompanies the SAS for kindergartners in math, 2.1.K.A: Demonstrate the relationship
between numbers and quantities, including rote counting, one-to-one correspondence, and
counting by tens, and comparing values of whole numbers up to 20.
The skeleton anatomy activity is based around the idea that Seor Calavera has lost his
bones, and the students must help him be put back together. Students pick a set of bones, read the
word attached, find that body part on their body, and then determine where it should go on the
bulletin board based on where those bones are on their own body. This activity ties in the SAS
for kindergartners in science, S.K-2.A.3.1.1: Describe a system as being made of multiple parts
that work together. It also addresses the idea that although we are all different on the outside,
we are all the same on the inside.

Deanna Boerstler
The third activity is the Papel Picado activity. This activity takes the traditional Mexican
decoration and turns it into a geometry matching activity. Papel Picado are rectangular tissue
paper decorations with shapes cut into them to create designs. These are then strung from the
ceiling for celebrations. For this activity, students use Papel Picado cards with geometric
patterns. Students match foam shapes to the corresponding shapes on those cards. This addresses
the SAS for kindergartners in math, 2.9.K.A: Identify and describe common 2-dimensional
shapes. and, 2.8.K.C: Recognize, describe, extend, replicate and transfer number and
geometric patterns.
The last activity is a coloring sheet where students are asked to draw a picture of them
celebrating with their family. This connects back to Just a Minute when Grandma Beetle invites
all of her grandchildren over for a party. This activity addresses the diversity idea that all
families are different and have different cultures and traditions.
Just a Minute could be a controversial book to teach in a classroom. While it does a good
job of introducing students to Mexican culture, some parents might not like the Dia de los
Muertos motif because of its connection to pagan traditions. However, I think it is important to
address the idea that people in different parts of the world have different cultures. By creating
this awareness at a young age, I believe that it will help prevent prejudices later in life. As long
as this book is taught in an academic way, administrators should be glad that their teachers are
including both cultural and academic lessons. Some students might be afraid of Seor Calavera
because he is a skeleton. Also, if students realize that Seor Calavera is a representation of death,
they might be upset. However, the teacher can just remind the students that he is a fictional
character, not something they have to worry about. Additionally, if students do not realize that
Seor Calavera is supposed to be Death, then the topic does not need to be addressed.