Critical Literacy in Elementary Social Studies: Juxtaposing Historical Master and Counter Narratives in Picture Books

ABSTRACT

In this article the authors demonstrate how pairing master and counter narrative picture books, along with critical literacy practices, can be used to enhance the social studies curriculum outlined by state standards taught in today's elementary schools. These intentional book pairings allow students to grapple with what history truly means and to question how history is told. To facilitate an understanding of how such lessons could take place, a model lesson plan and a description of paired picture books that lend themselves to critical literacy lessons and that represent commonly taught elementary social studies content are provided. A list of resources is included to assist teachers in locating additional picture books.

KEYWORDS:

• Critical literacy
• elementary school
• social studies
• picture books
• counter narrative