Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Who Changed America

A 5-Day Unit Study for Elementary Students

Think about breakfast this morning. The strawberries on your cereal, the grapes in your lunchbox, the vegetables on your dinner plate—someone picked every single one. For generations, these hardworking people remained invisible, deliberately excluded from the laws that protected other American workers.

Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Who Changed America tells the extraordinary true story of how ordinary people stood together, refused to accept injustice, and transformed a nation—without ever raising a fist in violence.

What Your Child Will Discover

This comprehensive unit study guides your elementary student through one of America’s most inspiring stories of peaceful resistance and collective courage:

• The hidden history of why farmworkers were purposely left out of labor protections

• The partnership between Cesar Chavez and the fearless Dolores Huerta, who gave us the rallying cry “Sí se puede”—Yes, it can be done

• How boycotts, marches, and hunger fasts proved more powerful than violence ever could

• Why this struggle continues today—and what your family can do about it

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

In a world full of challenges, you want your children to understand that one person—working alongside others—can make a meaningful difference. This curriculum shows them how.

Your child will learn that change doesn’t come from heroes acting alone. It comes from ordinary people who decide to work together, even when it’s difficult. They’ll see how creative problem-solving, moral courage, and peaceful persistence can overcome obstacles that seem impossible.

These are the lessons that shape responsible citizens and thoughtful leaders.

What’s Inside: A Complete 5-Day Learning Experience

This unit study is organized into five carefully structured sections, designed to be completed one section per day over the course of a week.

Each Section Includes:

• An engaging reading featuring real stories, historical photographs, and age-appropriate discussions of challenging topics such as poverty, injustice, and working conditions

• Key vocabulary terms to build academic language

• Discussion questions and writing prompts that develop critical thinking and comprehension

• Coloring sheets for creative engagement

• Hands-on lapbook activities that reinforce vocabulary and lesson concepts through interactive learning

Building Literacy That Lasts

At Pallas, we emphasize nonfiction because it builds literacy through real-world knowledge. Children develop stronger vocabularies, learn to evaluate evidence, and connect reading to the world around them.

By completing one section daily—reading together followed by a written response—you’ll cultivate a consistent habit of reading and writing that expands cognitive stamina and strengthens literacy skills. This simple daily practice builds reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing ability simultaneously.

Audio Included: Perfect for Every Learner

With your purchase, you’ll receive access to a complete podcast version of all lessons.

Perfect for auditory learners, reluctant readers, or on-the-go listening during car rides and quiet time. Let your child hear these powerful stories come to life while following along with the text—or enjoy them together as a family during your next road trip.

A Note for Parents

This unit includes age-appropriate discussions of poverty, injustice, and difficult working conditions. These truths help children understand why the farmworkers’ movement mattered—and why it still matters today.

When your child finishes this study, they won’t just know who Cesar Chavez was. They’ll understand that the food on their plate connects them to real people with families, hopes, and dreams. They’ll know that peaceful action can change the world. And they’ll carry with them Dolores Huerta’s powerful reminder that when someone says something can’t be done, the answer is always:

Sí se puede.

Prepare your child to be a thoughtful citizen who understands that justice requires courage—and that ordinary people, working together, can accomplish extraordinary things.