I was looking for ideas for a diversity day and, as always, I got some creative
ideas and great titles from this group. Thanks so much--here's the hit...
We have a diversity day each term. Classes present songs, poems etc.
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other cultures. Students and teachers are encourage to wear clothing from
their own culture, or any culture they wish. Teachers plan art activities
that reflect different cultures and these masterpieces are displayed in the
gym. So far I haven't come up with a plan to involve the library, but would
love to hear some ideas.
Don't know if you're interested in a Black author but we've had success with
both Valerie Flournoy (Patchwork Quilt) and Brian Pinkney. Valerie lives in
Southern NJ and Brian is in Bklyn. and both will travel to Monmouth Co.
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Hi--
I use this little lesson every year with my K&1 classes. They love it!
http://www.learnnc.com/LearnNC/lessonp.nsf/docUNID/5A603AFBC0A351BF85256B4500629106?OpenDocument
A couple of things off the top of my head that we have done in the
past. -- I know you said "day" but how about prior to the month --
ask the 5th grade teachers to work with their students (of course
with your research teaching) to research historical people of
diversity. Their assignment would be to write 2-5 sentences about
that person that would "tell" who they were. Each student would then
rehearse reading their paragraph and read it over the innercom during
morning announcements or midday - -whenever was appropriate. That
was one of the most powerful diversity activities we did. All the
older students listened to their buddies intently. Younger children
listened for older brothers and sisters.
Each day teachers of EVERY classroom got a one sheet crib sheet about
the person to be featured that particular day. That gave her some
additional information to share as appropriate and suggested some
further readings if appropriate. We had a collection of books on
display in the LMC -- checkout during this time frame ONLY to
teachers for a hour which they could reserve ahead of time and we
would deliver and pick-up as that allowed the maximum number of
classrooms to use on the day. When the books were in the LMC they
could be read by students who came in to the reading corner.
The other thing we did was have parents/grandparents who were natives
of or who had lived in different countries come in as guest speakers
that day and just answer questions. A classroom setting. We put a
huge map in the LMC and marked the location of all guests. Teachers
were given resource material about the geographical location so they
could work with their students to have great Q. It was mostly a Q& A
session but many guests brought pictures and great stories.
I use the book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. I take about 25 wooden
popsicle sticks and tape them together with mailing tape so that they make a
flexible wooden fence. I then read the book aloud, stopping to fill in the
necessary background information since the book is about a time in history that
kids today don't really understand. Then, we talk about that metaphor of the fence
from the book, and I use my fence to illustrate how fences are designed to keep us
separate. But, if I turn my little fence and knock it down, then it can become a
bridge to help me reach out to someone else across whatever divide might separate
us. I then give all the kids a plain popsicle stick and ask them if they will
choose to build fences or bridges. For older kids, they draw a picture and write
about something they do to build a bridge. For example, they might say something
like, "I build a bridge when I include everyone in my game at recess." or "I build
a bridge when I stick up for someone who is being teased."
For little kids, they can just draw the picture and talk about their ideas to bring
people together.
I hope this makes sense.
The other book you might do (but this takes a little practice to get it down) is
What a Wonderful World <illustrated by Ashley Bryan>. This picture book is
absolutely beautiful! I bought a CD of Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful
World" and I play the CD and turn the pages in time with the music. It's a very
powerful closing experience.
Another book I highly recommend is Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Also,
the Scholastic Kids are Authors Book called "We Dream of a World" lends itself so
easily to something like you're wanting. There's another book that has great math
connections called If the World Were a Village. This is really something for your
fifth graders, though because it has a lot of percentages and facts to ponder.
It's really a book about developing global citizenship, but it's applicable for
your purposes here, I think.
Amanda Power
Library Media Specialist
Lincroft & River Plaza Elementary Schools
Middletown, NJ
powera@middletownk12.org
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