Lesson Plan - Colors for Everyone!

Watch the Video
Play the video “A Color for Everyone” to introduce students to Bellen Woodard before reading the article.  Point out that the video was made when Bellen was 9. Ask: What do you think Bellen means when she describes herself as a “crayon activist”?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• inclusive
• tradition

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about ways they could help others feel included.

1. What was special about the first box of crayons that Bellen Woodard created?
The first box of crayons that Bellen Woodard created was special because it was inclusive. The article explains “It includes colors that represent all skin tones.”
^{(RI.4.1 Text Evidence)}

2. Summarize the main ideas of the section “Think Pink.”
The section “Think Pink” is mainly about Bellen’s experiences and thoughts as a young ballerina. She noticed that most dancers wore pink tights and shows, which created the look of an unbroken line on the dancers’ bodies. But because Bellen has brown skin, pink tights and shoes did not have the same effect.
^{(RI.4.2 Summarizing)}

3. What does the author mean when she writes that to Bellen, “ballet brown is more than a phrase”?
When the author writes that to Bellen, “ballet brown is more than a phrase,” she means that talking about “ballet brown” in addition to “ballet pink” helps dancers with different skin tones feel welcome and included in the ballet world.
^{(RI.4.1 Inference)}

FEATURED SKILL: Informational Writing
Let Bellen’s story inspire students! Distribute the skill builder “Write From the Heart,” and encourage students to plan their own nonfiction books about causes or issues that are important to them.
^{(W.4.2 Informational Writing)}