Subject: Social Studies; Character Education Grade Level: Pre-K (Can be modified for all grade levels) Rationale: It is important for teachers today to encourage a classroom environment that is anti-biased and free from racism and prejudice, from both the students and the teacher. This lesson encourages students to look beyond the outside of a person and focus more on who the person is on the inside. Materials:
Procedure: Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to teach students that despite the way people look on the outside they are the same inside. The students will be able to identify with students that look different from them but who have many things in common. Direct Teach: Activity 1/Before Reading: Ask the students what “the same” and “different”mean to activate prior knowledge. Ask several students who are wearing the same color to come stand at the front of the room. Ask students what is“ the same” about these students. Their responses can vary from, “Both are wearing jeans” to “they both have black hair”. Then ask the class what is“ different” about these students. Student responses will vary. Write student responses on a pre-made Venn diagram. Have the children look at the cover of the book It’s Okay to be Different. Ask the children what they think the book will be about. Activity 2/ During Reading: Begin reading the book, It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr. During reading allow for student comments and questions about the illustrations and text in the book. Activity 3/After Reading: Present the class with a brown egg and a white egg in bowls. Allow the class to touch the egg and feel the weight and texture of the egg. Allow for plenty of exploration time with the two eggs. Student responses can be written on a dry erase board. When the class has observed the eggs ask them what they think the eggs will look like on the inside. Crack the eggs open into the bowls and explain to the students that, “even though the eggs look different on the outside they are the same inside, just like you and me”. Further explanation of how people are the same can follow this. Extension/Enrichment: Extension Activity 1: Have the students create a mask based on their “true color”— skin color paints are needed for this. When the activity is finished students can hold their masks over their faces and the teacher can take a class picture. Extension Activity 2: Have the students dictate responses to the question, “What did you think the different colored eggs look like on the inside before we broke them open?” Write responses on a sentence strip. Have students draw pictures as a reflection on the lesson. They can include other things that look different on the outside but are the same inside. Resources/Research Consulted: “Multicultural education is a progressive approach for transforming education that holistically critiques and addresses current shortcomings, failings, and discriminatory practices in education…Multicultural education acknowledges that schools are essential to laying the foundation for the transformation of society and the elimination of oppression and injustice.” (Paul Gorski 2000). Teacher Comments: Special thanks to Dr. O'Neal for the suggestions. |