4th & 5th Grade Resources

César Chávez Graphic Biography

from World Alamanac

Theme: Graphic Biography

From ProQuest

Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers

by Sarah Warren

Theme: Biography

Additional Resources: Full length book reading in Spanish

Harvesting Hope: The Story of César Chávez

by Kathleen Krull

Theme: Biography

Teaching Resources: Lesson suggestions from Yuyi Morales, illustrator

Cosechando Esperanza: La Historia de César Chávez

by Kathleen Krull

Theme: Biography

Teaching Resources: Lesson suggestions from Yuyi Morales, illustrator

Spanish Language

Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong

by Dawn R. Mabalon, Phd & Gayle Romasanta

Theme: Biography

Teaching Resources: Publisher curriculum

¡Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A.

by Diana Cohn

Theme: Labor Rights

Description: ¡Sí, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can! is a bilingual fictional story set against the backdrop of the successful janitors’ strike in Los Angeles in 2000. It tells about Carlitos, whose mother is a janitor. Every night, he sleeps while his mother cleans in one of the skyscrapers in downtown L.A. When she comes home, she waves Carlitos off to school before she goes to sleep. One night, his mamá explains that she can’t make enough money to support him and his abuelita the way they need unless she makes more money as a janitor. She and the other janitors have decided to go on strike.

Bilingual book (Spanish)

Side by Side/Lado a Lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and César Chávez

by Monica Brown

Theme: Biography

Teaching Resources: 3/4 Grade Lesson from Dolores Huerta Foundation

Bilingual Book (Spanish)

That's Not Fair!/¡No Es Justo!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice

by Carmen Tafolla

Theme: Biography

Description: A vivid depiction of the early injustices encountered by a young Mexican-American girl in San Antonio in the 1920's, this book tells the true story of Emma Tenayuca. Emma learns to care deeply about poverty and hunger during a time when many Mexican Americans were starving to death and working unreasonably long hours at slave wages in the city's pecan-shelling factories. Through astute perception, caring, and personal action, Emma begins to get involved, and eventually, at the age of 21, leads 12,000 workers in a significant historical action in the Mexican-American struggle for justice.

Teaching Resources: Additional background on and photos of Emma Tenayuca

Bilingual Book (Spanish)

The Untold Story of Larry Itliong, Labor Rights Hero

by Christina Oxtra

Theme: Biography

César Chávez: Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist (3:51) 

PBS LearningMedia

Outlines how César Chávez created the United Farm Workers, the first successful union for farm laborers. Students will watch a short video and examine two primary sources in order to understand how Chávez was able to successfully organize a movement among some of America’s poorest and most oppressed workers.

Filipino American Farmworkers Fight for Their Rights (6:55) 

PBS LearningMedia

Larry Itliong, a central leader of the farmworkers movement, was a Filipino farmworker who had been organizing laborers for years throughout the west coast. In the summer of 1965 in Delano, California, he created a coalition with César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, leaders of the Mexican American farmworkers union. Together, they created the United Farm Workers Union and led a grape boycott that spread nationwide.

Philip Vera Cruz - Civil Rights Hero (1:47) 

Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus

Philip Vera Cruz embodied the experiences of the manong generation, an enormous wave of Filipino immigrants who came to the United States between 1910 and 1930. Instead of better opportunities, they found racial discrimination, deplorable living conditions, and oppressive labor practices.  He joined the Agricultural Worker Organizing Committee (AWOC) and soon became a leader in farm workers rights. In 1965 he was an active force in the AWOC decision to strike against grape growers in Delano, CA. 

Larry Itliong - Civil Rights Hero (2:04) 

Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus

Farm labor organizer Larry Itliong and a group of Filipino farmworkers instigated one of the American farm labor movement’s finest hours – The Delano Grape Strike of 1965 and national boycott that brought about the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). While the movement is known for Cesar Chavez’s leadership and considered a Chicano movement, Filipinos played a pivotal role that began it all.

California Filipino Farmworkers Who Sparked A Rebellion For Farmworkers' Rights (3:14) 

AJ+

 In 1965, Filipino grape farmers in Delano, CA went on strike and started one of the most significant labor movements in U.S. history.  A look at the often untold story of the Filipino community involvement in the Farm Labor Movement. 

The Farm Worker Movement (16:20) 

PBS LearningMedia

Farm workers play a crucial role in feeding the nation and ensuring the viability of commodities, yet they have suffered extremely poor working conditions for many years.  Explore the early days of the United Farmworkers under the guidance of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. See the conditions that led to the organization of a farm labor union and the initial challenges to its work.

Helen Chávez (wife of  César Chávez) Reads Statement to Press (1:37) 

Bay Area Television Archive - SF State University

News report from December 5th 1970 in Salinas (Monterey County, CA) featuring images of United Farm Worker members keeping a vigil outside the jail where their leader César Chávez is detained. Also includes scenes of his wife Helen Chávez reading a statement from César to reporters.