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Junie B.'s having a rough week. First she
got punishment for shooting off her mouth in kindergarten. And
now she's in big trouble again! 'Cause Monday is Job Day, and
Junie B. told her class that she's got the bestest job of all.
Only, what the heck is it?
In this guide, a social studies lesson is used
to discuss the various careers that women and men have traditionally
occupied throughout history and the importance of Junie’s statement,
"Girls can be anything boys can be!" The science lesson in the
second classroom activity focuses on physical characteristics
of students’ family members to help them understand genes and
heredity.
Pre-Reading Activities
In Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, Junie B.
brags that she will come to school on Job Day dressed as the
best job ever, but she spoke before she really knew what that
job would be. Ask your students if they’ve ever spoken before
thinking and what the results were. Discuss the importance
of acquiring all information prior to volunteering for a service
or offering advice.
 Boys
and Girls Together
"Girls can be anything boys can be!" yells Junie B.
Confirm Junie’s assertion with your students by having
them list men and women they know in similar professions. Discuss
with them how the career "equality" of today didn’t
always exist. List careers that men and women traditionally
occupied throughout history, discussing how these jobs were
tied to general gender roles of "caretaker" and "breadwinner."
Note when and why things began to change in America. Give examples
demonstrating whether or not women in different countries enjoy
the same personal and career choices as women in this country
do. Conclude by having students write a short paragraph about
what they would like to be when they grow up and why.
 Printable
Activities
Rosemary B. Stimola, Ph.D. teaches
Children's Literature at City University of New York and serves
as educational and editorial consultant to publishers of children's
books.
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