Something Happened In Our Town: Essential Racism Worksheet

This "Something Happened in Our Town" worksheet facilitates a critical conversation about racism and equality through a powerful visual metaphor. By comparing different types of eggs that share the same internal qualities, students explore the concept of shared humanity. This ELA activity encourages deep reflection on social justice topics while building essential comprehension skills through a carefully scaffolded read-aloud experience.

At a Glance

• Grade: 3–7 · Subject: English Language Arts (ELA)
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 — Refer to details in a text to explain explicit meanings and draw inferences
• Skill Focus: Social Justice & Metaphorical Thinking
• Format: 2 pages · 6 problems · PDF
• Best For: Social-Emotional Learning and No-Prep Lessons
• Time: 20–30 minutes

What's Inside

This two-page PDF resource includes a clear instruction page directing students to a read-aloud video of the acclaimed book "Something Happened in Our Town." The second page features a six-question activity that uses a high-quality photograph of various eggs to help students visualize similarities and differences. It includes multiple-choice "Check All That Apply" items and critical thinking questions regarding human rights and the ethical treatment of others.

Zero-Prep Workflow

This resource is designed for immediate classroom implementation with minimal teacher effort. Teachers can print the activity in under 1 minute and distribute it as a companion to the video read-aloud session. The students watch the video and then complete the worksheet independently. Finally, review the responses as a whole group to facilitate a deep discussion on empathy. Total prep time is under 2 minutes.

Standards Alignment

This activity is aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1, which requires students to refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences. By connecting the visual egg metaphor to the book's themes, students practice making complex inferential connections. This standard code can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet during the social justice unit. It serves as an excellent formative assessment to observe how students apply abstract concepts like equality to concrete examples. For an observation tip, listen for students' justifications during the whole-class review of questions 5 and 6, as these responses reveal their deep understanding of the book's message regarding human dignity.

Who It's For

This resource is ideal for upper elementary and middle school students in Grades 3 through 7. It is particularly effective for inclusive classrooms where visual aids support understanding of complex social themes. Pair this with a printed passage from "Something Happened in Our Town" or a social-emotional learning anchor chart to provide additional scaffolding for students who may require more direct instructional support.

Visual metaphors are a proven instructional strategy for teaching abstract concepts like racism, aligning with "Something Happened In Our Town" curriculum goals. Integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) with literacy significantly improves student engagement and empathy. This Grade 3-7 ELA worksheet addresses CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 by requiring students to identify specific similarities and differences, bridging observation and inference. This 6-task activity, focusing on shared humanity through the egg metaphor, provides a structured path for students to articulate their understanding of equity and justice in a classroom setting.