Honouring Diversity through Story
Some Of My Best Friends Are Polka-Dot Pigs
By Sara Anderson
Pre-Reading Activity
Have students draw a picture of their friends, thinking about what makes each of their friends special.
Reading
Read the story aloud, and ask students to name special things about each person in the story.
Post-Reading
Discuss with the class what they know is special about their friends. Bring up the topic of those with disabilities, and of those students who come from another culture. Brainstorm ways that the class can make sure that everyone feels special. This will help the students to begin to take ownership for their actions and to be mindful to be looking out for others and celebrating what is special about each one of them!
By Sara Anderson
Pre-Reading Activity
Have students draw a picture of their friends, thinking about what makes each of their friends special.
Reading
Read the story aloud, and ask students to name special things about each person in the story.
Post-Reading
Discuss with the class what they know is special about their friends. Bring up the topic of those with disabilities, and of those students who come from another culture. Brainstorm ways that the class can make sure that everyone feels special. This will help the students to begin to take ownership for their actions and to be mindful to be looking out for others and celebrating what is special about each one of them!
Braille Circuit
This activity allows young children (grade K-3) to begin to understand and accept differences in others. It helps to open their eyes to the diversity around them, and to understand what those with disabilities (visual impairment) experience.
Activity
Station #1
Children will be blindfolded and will 'read' letters of the alphabet by touching and feeling them with their fingers. They will see how many letters of the alphabet they can 'read'.
Station #2
Pin the Tail on the Donkey-Blindfold one student, and give them the tail of the donkey. Have them try to pin it onto the donkey, taking note of how difficult it is without seeing the donkey.
Station #3
Who's that?-Blindfold one student and have them try to figure out who is who by feeling their face. Once all students have had a chance to try, move on to Station #4.
Station #4
'Feely' Bags-Blindfold students and have them feel inside the bag and guess what is inside.
Required Materials
Braille Alphabet-Can be made by poking holes along the outline of the letters.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey Game-This could also be done by drawing an animal on the board and giving the children a sticky note to stick onto the animal.
Blindfolds
Baggies with objects inside, such as raisins, crayons, buttons, blocks, and so on.
When to use these activities?
These activities would be great to use if there was a child in your class with a vision problem. This would allows students to see how a visually impaired child would learn to read, and what it would be like to do activities. These activities could also be used if there were a different learning disability in the classroom, as it teaches students to be aware of those around them, and begins to build empathy within them.
References
http://www.cdrcp.com/pdf/Anti%20Bias%20Resource%20Booklet.pdf
Activity
Station #1
Children will be blindfolded and will 'read' letters of the alphabet by touching and feeling them with their fingers. They will see how many letters of the alphabet they can 'read'.
Station #2
Pin the Tail on the Donkey-Blindfold one student, and give them the tail of the donkey. Have them try to pin it onto the donkey, taking note of how difficult it is without seeing the donkey.
Station #3
Who's that?-Blindfold one student and have them try to figure out who is who by feeling their face. Once all students have had a chance to try, move on to Station #4.
Station #4
'Feely' Bags-Blindfold students and have them feel inside the bag and guess what is inside.
Required Materials
Braille Alphabet-Can be made by poking holes along the outline of the letters.
Pin the Tail on the Donkey Game-This could also be done by drawing an animal on the board and giving the children a sticky note to stick onto the animal.
Blindfolds
Baggies with objects inside, such as raisins, crayons, buttons, blocks, and so on.
When to use these activities?
These activities would be great to use if there was a child in your class with a vision problem. This would allows students to see how a visually impaired child would learn to read, and what it would be like to do activities. These activities could also be used if there were a different learning disability in the classroom, as it teaches students to be aware of those around them, and begins to build empathy within them.
References
http://www.cdrcp.com/pdf/Anti%20Bias%20Resource%20Booklet.pdf