9/21/2026

Morning Announcements

Morning Meeting Agenda

Mon · Social Studies Tue · Literacy Wed · Science Thu · Math Fri · ROAR + Houses
Social Studies of the Day

Who decides what’s fair?

Every community needs people who help decide what’s fair when there’s a disagreement. In our country, that job belongs to judges — and today, during Hispanic Heritage Month, we meet one who made history.

Portrait of Sonia Sotomayor

Meet Sonia Sotomayor! Her family came from Puerto Rico. She loved to read as a kid, worked very hard in school, and grew up to become a judge on the highest court in our whole country.

A judge is someone who listens carefully to both sides of a problem and helps decide what is fair.

Let’s talk
  • If two friends both want the same toy, what would be a fair way to solve it?
  • Why is it important to listen to BOTH people before you decide?
Try it

Be a fair listener! Turn to a partner. One person shares their favorite game, and the other listens with a quiet mouth and looking eyes. Then switch. Good listening is how fairness starts!

Mystery leader: She grew up in a housing project in the Bronx, raised by Puerto Rican parents. She fell in love with reading as a child, went on to Princeton and Yale, and in 2009 became the first Latina justice on the U.S. Supreme Court — one of only nine people who decide the country’s most important legal questions.

Who is she?Hide
Portrait of Sonia Sotomayor
Justice Sonia Sotomayor — the first Latina and third woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She has written children’s books encouraging kids to embrace what makes them different, and often tells students that reading opened every door in her life. Photo: Supreme Court of the United States (public domain)
Let’s talk
  • Only nine justices decide the country’s biggest legal questions. Why does it matter that they come from different backgrounds?
  • She says reading opened every door for her. What door do you think reading could open for you?
Try it

With a partner, take a real playground disagreement and argue BOTH sides — one of you for each. Then switch. Judges have to understand both sides before deciding. Was it harder than you expected?

Additional Notes/Activities

If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.