Diversity is the Special Ingredient

For the opening 3M’s activity, students should be positioned in a circle, either standing or with their desks. This is done to open up a discussion on equality. If placing students in a circle is not possible in your classroom, be sure to read through the script ahead of time and adjust as necessary.

There is a read-aloud in this lesson on Slide 7.  Each student will need a copy of the Read-Along Handout. We have provided some examples of books that would fit well with the theme, and leave it up to you to decide which book to include that best serves the needs of your own community.  If you choose to select your own book, please choose one in which the main character deals with some sort of struggle around hurtful stereotypes and ultimately decides to celebrate their own identity.  You can find read-alouds of most of these on YouTube if you don’t have access to the book.

• Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch: A clever princess outsmarts a dragon to rescue a prince, challenging traditional gender roles in fairy tales.
• The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad: A young girl learns the powerful significance of her sister’s hijab on the first day of school.
• The Mermaid with No Tail by Jessica Long: A young mermaid born without a tail learns to embrace her differences and discovers her unique strengths, inspired by the true story of Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long.
• Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love: A young boy embraces his love for mermaids and finds acceptance for his true self in his vibrant community.
• My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart: A child navigates a world divided by binary colors, embracing their unique identity that transcends traditional gender norms.
• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman: A young girl dreams of playing Peter Pan in a school play and overcomes stereotypes to pursue her passion.
• The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca: The inspiring true story of Temple Grandin, a woman with autism who revolutionized the livestock industry with her unique visual thinking.

On Slide 12 students will brainstorm ways to celebrate and accept their differences in the classroom. You may either have students vote on implementing one of their ideas OR choose your own idea ahead of time to implement. Below are some suggestions with easy implementation.

• Culture Sharing Day: Have a special day where students bring in items, foods, or stories from their culture to share with the class.
• Buddy System: Pair up students to ensure everyone has a friend to sit with during lunch, play with at recess, or work with during group activities.
• Inclusion Pledge: Create a classroom pledge where everyone commits to including others and standing up against exclusion or bullying.
• Class Library: Build a class library with books that represent different cultures, abilities, and identities so everyone can see themselves reflected in the stories.
• Weekly Spotlight: Have a "Student Spotlight" where each week, a different student gets to share something special about themselves, such as a talent, tradition, or favorite activity.
• Holiday Celebrations: Learn about and celebrate different holidays from around the world, allowing students to share how they celebrate with their families.
• Language of the Week: Introduce a new word in a different language each week, encouraging students to learn and use it.