6 Diversity and Inclusion Printable Activities To Welcome Your Students Back to School
6 diversity and inclusion expression activities to welcome your students back to school
We all know that the first days of school lay the foundation for the whole year. As educators, one of our immediate goals is to ensure that all of our students, from diverse cultures and backgrounds, feel included and supported in our classroom so that they are ready to learn. To welcome students back to school, here are six printable diversity and inclusion activities from Read for a Better World, a new classroom literacy collection that includes books, lessons, and activities on Identity, Diversity, Equity and action includes.
1. Jigsaw Pieces of Me (Pre-K-1)
This activity uses identity as its theme. It is based on the idea that the collection of all the little things you do makes you who you are. Part of your identity is made up of things you enjoy doing. The puzzle pieces in this activity encourage self-reflection and group discussion. This is another way for students to share more about who they are when you welcome them back to school.
How it works: Have students write their names at the top of the page. Then have them draw a picture of what they like to eat, what they like to do, what they look like, and what their favorite color is in each puzzle piece.
Make printable: puzzle pieces from me
2. Family Portrait (Pre-K-1)
Much of a child's early worldview is shaped by caregivers and family members. A student's identity is influenced by these adults in their life and this activity gives them the opportunity to share their families with their classmates. You can encourage them to include family members who are not biologically related to them. Ask them key questions like: What makes a family? How do family members support each other?
How it works: Have students draw a picture of their family. Then answer a few questions about their families. For example: My family takes care of me by... helping my family by... showing my family that I care by...
Make printable: family portrait
3. Classmate Interview (Grades 2-3)
This activity will help students discover all the many ways in which they are the same and how they differ from one another. It states that despite differences, our identity makes the world more interesting and beautiful. And it helps students find out how much they have in common. Additionally, this activity is designed to build empathy by actively learning about others.
How it works: Start by talking about how we are all different in general and how we are the same. Consider writing student responses on a dry-erase board. Then have the students pair up and interview each other. Have students take turns asking each other the same four questions from the activity sheet.
Make printable: classmate interview
4. Shaped by Place (Grades 2-3)
This activity explores the importance of place and environment to make us who we are. This helps students understand how people are shaped by where they live. This can be an opportunity to reflect on how the places they spend time in help inform who they are.
How it works: Focus on the idea that a place makes you who you are. Have students answer these three questions three times: What am I doing here? Who do I like here? How do I feel here?
Make printable: Shaped by the place
5. Outer Self, Inner Self (Grades 4-5)
This diversity and inclusion activity is a great way to welcome students back to school as it invites them to explore identity and their inner and outer selves. Ask students to think about the feelings they hold inside and the identities they share with the world. Remind students that identity is something people can see and that parts of it are hidden.
How it works: Ask students to draw a realistic self-portrait. You could bring a photo to class and work with it. Ask students to draw the photo based on what they think people will see when they look at it. This would be the "outer self". Using the worksheet, students answer questions about themselves, such as: B: What do people think when they look at me? My friends would say I'm...?
Then ask students to draw a self-portrait of themselves based on what people don't see when they look at them. You can answer questions like: One thing people don't know about me is... I think I'm...
Make printable: Outer me, inner me
6. My Media (Grades 4-5)
This activity helps students think critically about diversity and representation in what they see. You begin to understand the importance of fair and accurate representation in film and television. Ask students to think about whether or not the programs they watch represent a diverse community of people. You can take this opportunity to talk about the history of American film and television. How black characters were once played by white actors in Black Face. Challenge students to think about their responsibility for what they see and how they could change it.
How it works: Have students answer questions about what they are watching, focusing primarily on the characters. Students will explore how the characters are similar to them and how they are different. They wonder if the character is likable and describe how they behave.
Make printable: my media
Want 6 more activities to express diversity and inclusion?
Help your students grow as readers and people with 6 more Diversity & Inclusion Expression Activities + Tips for Talking to Students about Diversity, Inclusion, Identity, Equity & Action from Read for a Better World. It is a new literacy collection for grades Pre-K through 5 that includes class libraries of authentic and culturally relevant texts. Simply fill out the form to receive your free printables.
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