Resources for Educators
Tethered to Other Stars addresses issues of right and wrong in a world of unjust laws, allyship, social justice activism, family relationships, bullying, immigration and more. It also has STEM elements with a particular focus on astronomy. Here are some useful links that can be used as background for teaching these themes or incorporated into classroom lessons connected to the book. (For grades 5-8)
Just for fun!
Which character from Tethered to Other Stars are you? Take the quiz!
Media
Tethered to Other Stars Book Trailer Watch the book trailer on YouTube!
Seeds of Freedom- Song about Oscar Romero composed by Joe DeFilippo and performed by the R.J. Phillips Band. Soundcloud.
A Shelter for Edith - (Password: sanctuary) A 25 minute documentary by Noonday Films (Elisa Stone Leahy and her husband, Matthew Leahy) about Edith Espinal who lived in sanctuary in a Columbus, Ohio church for over 3 years to avoid a deportation order from ICE. This is the story that inspired Tethered to Other Stars.
Sanctuary for Edith: Immigration and Solidarity, TEDx, Joel Miller - A talk given by the pastor of Columbus Mennonite Church, about the years Edith spent living in sanctuary at his church and the fight for immigration justice.
Social Studies
Central America
Exploring the Histories of El Salvador and Guatemala through Literature by Justin Sybenga; Teaching Central America, a project of Teaching for Change.
Archbishop Oscar Romero's Assassination Zinn Education Project
Immigration
What's In A Label? Why Words Matter in Immigration Policy Debate interview with Amy Gottlieb, American Friends Service Committee
Article About Edith Espinal and the Sanctuary Movement by Stephanie Russell-Kraft, the New Republic
800,000 Reasons To Teach About Daca (2017) by Grace Cornell Gonzalez, Rethinking Schools
DACA Is In the Supreme Court. How About Your Classroom? (2019) by Cory Collins, Learning for Justice.
What is DACA and Who Are the DREAMers (2022) Anti-Defamation League
DACA Court Update June 2023
NPR Article About Oscar Romero
Activism
For All Para Todos- Teaching Immigration Activism in the K-12 Classroom The University of New Mexico, Latin American and Iberian Institute.
Teach Human Rights- Youth Activism American Federation of Teachers
Science
Julian Trubin- Resources for teaching parallax- experiments, lesson plans, science fair projects, etc. for K-12
Dr. Wendy Freedman- read about the real-life astronomer
Overview of teaching parallax- the Edvocate
Disorientation Maze- a science activity from Science World (Vancouver, BC) using mirrors to show different perspectives
Modeling the Orbits of Planets- Science activity from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA
Further Information for Teachers:
Who Can Stay Here? Documentation and citizenship in children’s literature by Grace Cornell; Rethinking Schools.
How to Talk About Immigration in Your Classroom American Friends Service Committee
Reimagining Migration Resources and tools for teaching about immigration and serving immigrant families
Guide to Supporting Immigrant Students and Families Colorín Colorado
MultiCultural Classroom Implementing anti-bias and anti-racist teaching strategies
Learning for Justice Professional development for teachers from Southern Poverty Law Center
How to Teach Kids About Microaggressions Nationwide Children’s Hospital, On Our Sleeves