Critical Literacy for young citizens

Holidays are a very sensitive topic to introduce to in a classroom given how diverse classrooms are today. The main topic in the article is to make sure students are being critical thinkers and using these skills to investigate what might of happened in the past and how history has shaped our culture in the present. Although, it is a very thoughtful form of creating ideas, and helping children see social studies from a different perspective. How can we explain this in a different manner? How can we make our students critical thinkers? If their cultural background does not believe in thanksgiving, and their religion is rather different. Does that mean those students do not get to participate? those are the questions we must ask ourselves before introducing very sensitive topics during the holiday season. 

As an alternative I believe students can and should look up things, events that have created an impact in their culture, religion or home-living.  Giving children the opportunity to do research on their own about celebration of their choosing, or a topic of their preference can make them critical thinkers. Creating research about how said celebration first began and how it has been adapted over the years, can help the student reflect on the past and the present. This way we are making sure every student is included and they can create historical connections and historical thinking. 

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