Celebrate Differences

People come from different backgrounds and experiences. In this lesson, students will understand what happens when we judge others based on things they cannot control. They will identify ways to learn about others and how to confront unwarranted bad feelings about people they do not know.

Have you ever disliked someone simply because of how they looked? Have you ever avoided getting to know someone because of what they wore? There are times when the ideas we have in our head prevent us from accepting other people for things they cannot change. When we dislike people without any reason or experience with that person, we can develop a bias towards that person or groups in which that person belongs. Having negative ideas against people or groups of people without any justification is prejudice. Instead of being okay with biases, we can learn more about people and become more understanding of who they are. In order to change, we can also be mindful, or reflective, when negative thoughts arise.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself.

• Why do I feel this way?
• Do I know this person?
• How would I feel if someone thought this way about me?
• Have I had any interactions with this person in order to have these feelings?

Once you know why you feel that way, you can work to be different. Having friends who are different from us makes our lives richer. It allows us to learn about others and celebrate them for who they are. When you have negative thoughts against people or groups of people without any reason to have them, you can change. You can make the first move to be friends with others who are different from you.

Try one of these ideas to learn about others who are different.

• Sit with someone new at lunch.
• Invite someone different to play with you and your friends.
• Volunteer to help the new students when they arrive to your class.

Essential Questions

1. How do our feelings and thoughts about people impact how we interact with them?
2. What can you do to combat unjustified negative feelings about people or groups of people?

Additional Student Activity Ideas

• Create a poster to define bias or prejudice using your own words.
• Generate a PSA that explains how we can change, or get rid of our own bias.
• Develop a graphic organizer that compares celebrating differences and bias or prejudice.

Produce a storyboard that defines bias or prejudice. Your storyboard should include the following:

• One character that shows bias.
• What makes them act that way.
• How the other person might feel.