Subway Sparrow (Lesson Plan)
- Conlan Morgan
- May 24, 2022
- 1 min read
INTRODUCTION
This reading guide is designed to accompany Leyla Torres’s picture book Subway Sparrow. We hold the belief that anti-racist practice is a process of learning (and unlearning) over time. Reading Is Resistance sees reading as an opportunity to seed deeper conversations and possibilities for action around racial justice in our communities.
Lesson content was written by Conlan Morgan, and was designed to start and deepen anti-bias/anti-racist conversations in families and other learning communities. Editors were Katelynn Sagendorf and Robert Raffaelly.
BOOK THEMES
LANGUAGE, COMMUNITY, ACTION, COLLABORATION, DIVERSITY, CULTURE
THE READ ALOUD
BOOK SUMMARY
When a sparrow becomes trapped on a New York City subway car, four people must work together to save it. Cultural differences become apparent once they begin their mission. Despite these differences, the four characters collaborate to work as a team. By overcoming the barriers of age, culture, and language, they manage to free the bird from the train. They then release the bird to safety and wish it well. This story is an effective tool for teaching the value of cooperation, regardless of potential differences in identity, culture, or ethnicity.
FULL READING GUIDE (download here)
For the full reading guide including discussion questions based on anti-oppression capacity building, download below!
This "Subway Sparrow" lesson plan is a great way to help students think about kindness and teamwork. The story shows how people from different backgrounds can come together to solve a problem. It reminded me of real-life moments where strangers help each other. Chuck Mincey, a retired contractor from Mississippi, always believed in working together to build strong homes and strong communities. Lessons like this one teach more than reading—they teach heart. Thanks for sharing!
While teaching “Subway Sparrow,” my students connected deeply with the themes of cooperation and kindness. One curious student linked it to real-life teamwork, comparing it to how buyers and sellers interact on the Mi Auto Auctions App. It sparked a lively discussion, showing stories truly inspire critical thinking and engagement.