In this lesson, youth become aware and gain empathy for the discrimination people experience because of their race, age, gender, and other reasons. The group discusses ways to be inclusive. A Mix it Up Day changes our familiar boundaries and helps us connect to new people.
Learners will sponsor Mix It Up Day, a national project to promote diversity within a school environment. Learners will experience roles as private citizens attempting to change behavior.
The learners examine the meaning of respect, especially as it relates to relating to people with different views. They describe how inclusion and exclusion from groups can result in conflict and stem from disrespect.
The purpose of this lesson is for learners to create a vocabulary wall about respect. They will define words associated with respect and disrespect and write a sentence using a vocabulary word.
Learners acknowledge that aligning with groups can promote belonging as well as conflict and power struggles. They discuss and write about ways to include and show respect for people with different identity traits.
Learners explore what it means for responsible citizens to demonstrate civic virtues of justice, kindness, peace, generosity, and inclusion.
Learners use words to communicate positively and build community. A service project involves writing positive messages on stones and placing them strategically to uplift and beautify.
Teens identify their roles and personal values, and analyze how their personal values and beliefs developed in connection to their community's values and beliefs. They discuss what decisions they can make through generosity and voice for the common good.
To work together, see the big picture, and think about the connection between individuals in the group as students participate in the activity.
Author: Urban EdVenture Faculty
Students gain empathy and use language to describe the mixed feelings that come with being new to a community. They watch and discuss video clips and compare character traits. Then they read a book and discuss how the book guides them to welcome new students to the classroom as the year...