Unique Magazine
Rather than talking to a group of students about one particular “diverse” child, get everyone together in a large circle and discuss diversity, differences and individuality. After the discussion pass a bean bag or “talking stick” around the circle. Upon recieving the bean bag, have each student tell 3 things about themselves: 1) something they are good at, 2) something that they know they have in common with at least one other person in the class, and 3) something that makes them special. By having everyone share, a sense of similarities and recognition that everyone is different in some way or other will be built. This could be followed up with having each student write a biography of themselves,introducing who they are and what makes them unique, including things like hobbies, dreams for the future, etc. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/downsyndrome/ could be read and shown as an example. The biography could then be formatted into a fun magazine spread complete with pictures and be posted up on the wall in the classroom or compiled into book form for each student to take home as a class year book of sorts. This activity would give the students a creative opportunity to look at themselves as unique individuals and still convey a sense of similarity and belonging, rather than focusing on what makes just one student different from everyone else.
Submitted by Sue Wiebe
Submitted by Sue Wiebe