Iggie’s House by Judy Blume explores themes of friendship, acceptance, and standing up against prejudice. When Winnie’s friend Iggie moves away and a Black family moves into Iggie’s old house, Winnie learns about the challenges her new neighbors face in a predominantly white neighborhood. The story teaches young readers about empathy, courage, and the importance of welcoming others, encouraging them to confront biases and support inclusivity in their own communities.

We have a three-week literature unit that focuses on Iggie’s House. Here are some ways we bring it to life: 

• Critical Thinking and Discussion: Students explore the dynamics of the relationships among the characters, encouraging critical thinking about race, friendship, and community. Discussions focus on how relationships evolve and the impact of societal views on personal connections.
• Writing Assignments: Inspired by the book, learners write narrative essays from the perspective of different characters.
• Vocabulary and Language Skills: While engaging with the text, students work on vocabulary expansion and context-based learning by documenting new words and phrases in a journal.
• Creative Expression: Learners are tasked with creating a visual representation of the book's setting, and writing letters from Winnie's perspective to Iggie.