Synopsis: Across the globe immigration is a reality for many students. The movement of families worldwide has uniquely affected all of us and how we teach. Many students have directly overcome difficult migration journeys and others have close family members who have overcome such experiences. A variety of complex push factors have led families to take dangerous and long journeys through the unknown, in a way not dissimilar to the journey of Dorothy and her friends in L. Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz1 The characters in this book, like families seeking a better future, have many distinctive characteristics. This curriculum unit helps students understand and embrace positive character habits. Students learn how these strategies and behaviors can help them overcome future challenges. 

This unit begins with an amplified version of, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for Multilingual Learners, by Lynne Wiesecke. This picture based digital graphic novel allows novice English speakers to gain a basic grasp of this classic story. A shared reading experience is followed by writing and speaking activities that prompt students to discuss and define distinctive personal characteristics. Students use Book Creator® to create their own personal e-book titled, My Journey to Oz. Students are encouraged to explore, illustrate and write about their own family’s migration and how challenges were overcome. Validation of each student’s unique history boosts self-esteem, creativity, pride and provides a sense of welcome and inclusion.