Introduce the students to families. Families come in all shapes, sizes and forms. All families are unique and special in their own ways.
Have students brainstorm situations where they hear the word family. Give them a minute to write down whatever comes to mind when they hear the word family. Have students share if they want too.
Next, have students draw a picture and explain a type of family they know of. It does not have to be their own family. It can be a friend's family, a family they know through literature or television.
Have students show their pictures or explain their picture or explanation. Do not stress that everyone has to show theirs, some students will be wary of this subject. Families can be hard for some students to discuss, so try to encourage differences are good things.
After students have presented their ideas, have students brain storm all the different types of families they heard about. Do they have any thoughts about families already? Explore what families mean to them.
Introduce the unit. Tell the students they will be reading books about different kinds of family. They will be reading and learning about family interactions. They may even be reading about types of families they have never thought of. Tell students to keep an open mind and really try to get a fill for the family and what the family is all about.