Creating an inclusive school climate is directly related to reducing violence in your school and community. No matter what age group you are working with or where you live, promoting tolerance and respect must be a priority. Below are a couple of diversity lesson plans that can be used in the classroom or in club activities:

Action Diversity (Middle and High School)

Objectives

• Teach the participants the definition of diversity
• Show the positive effect of diversity
• Encourage diversity into participant’s lives
• Emphasize to students that not only should we have tolerance towards other groups, but we should appreciate the value of differences among people
• Help students realize that discriminating against others affects everyone negatively
• Build awareness of stereotyping and reveal how it is the most widely used form of discrimination and can lead to serious repercussions

Discussion About Diversity

1. Ask students if they know what the word diversity means. Tell students that…

"Diversity is a word that we hear repeated a lot and in many different ways. Each of us has different things that come to mind when we hear the word diversity. Let`s come up with our own definition of the word diversity."

Ask for student`s responses. Record words or phrases on a blackboard or flipchart.

2. Give an example of a documented definition of diversity. For example, Webster`s Dictionary defines the word diversity as: 1) The fact or quality of being diverse; difference. 2) A point of respect in which things differ) .

3. Compare the student and documented definitions.

4. Keep the definitions up and visible in the classroom.

Taking The Diversity Discussion Further...

1.Go back to the list of words that were brainstormed for the definition. Point out to students that a lot of different words and phrases came up when talking about the one word diversity, such as race, ethnicity, and culture.

2. Divide students in groups that include 3-5 participants each.

3. Ask each group to research a specific word or phrase related to diversity. Have them look up definitions to their assigned word to gain a deeper understanding of the word.

4. As the groups work, go around the room to make sure groups are on task and that their information is accurate and factual.

5. Direct the groups to record their information on flipchart paper and report out their findings to the group.

6. Post these flipcharts around the room.

Thumbs Up: Everybody’s Different (All Grades)

1. Using a blank piece of paper, have students write their name in large letters (leaders may help younger students or have names on paper ahead of time).

2. Students will then make an Acrostic using the letters of their name to begin words that describe themselves. An Acrostic is a series of lines in which the first letter in each line, form a word or name. For example, Jim could be:

Jolly

Interesting

Male

3. Assist students by helping them to brainstorm words that they might use.

4. Add to the uniqueness of each student’s creation by including a thumbprint on each paper.

5. Discuss how we all have different thumbprints no matter how much “alike” we are.

6. Compare the ways students with the same or similar names described themselves, or the same letters in their names.

7.Point out how everyone is both similar and different from one another. Discuss the value of both similarities and differences.

Crossing the Line (Grades 6-12)

1. Create 2 parallel lines with the masking tape approximately 15 foot apart in an empty room or in the middle of the classroom.

2. Have all students stand behind the same line.

3. Explain to students that they are to walk across the line on the other side of the room if the following statements pertain to them. Clarify that they are to continue crossing back and forth across the room as the questions pertain to them.

4. Tell students to "Cross the line if…"

• You have been teased because of the food you eat
• You have been picked on because of the music you listen to
• You have been teased because of the way you talk
• You have been picked on because of your size, weight or height
• You have been made fun of because of something you said
• You have ever been treated differently because of your race or skin color

5. Then tell everyone:

"Please stand on the line if you crossed the line for any conditions we just asked."

6. Discuss how this activity shows how they are not alone. Also highlight how different people crossed the line at different points reveals that people face different forms of discrimination. Ask students to share how it feels.

7.Wrap up the lesson by saying…

"It is one thing to understand the significance and positive attributes of diversity. But it is also essential to examine how discrimination and stereotypes harm everyone. Hopefully this activity revealed how, although each one of us is unique, we are all the same in recognizing the pain resulting from such negative views and actions."

Editor`s Note: These activities were excerpted from Action Diversity Lesson Plan For Grades 6-12 developed by the National Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Youth Advisory Board Members, 2004.