Lesson Plan
Our Colorful World Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify and appreciate different aspects of cultural diversity within their classroom and community.
Understanding and celebrating diversity helps students develop empathy, respect, and a broader perspective of the world. It builds a more inclusive and welcoming classroom environment for everyone.
Audience
2nd Grade
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Through discussion and an interactive activity, students will explore what makes each person unique.
Materials
Our Colorful World Slide Deck, Warm Up: Unique Me! Drawing Activity, Our Colorful World Handprint Activity, and Cool Down: One Word Wonders
Prep
Lesson Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Our Colorful World Slide Deck and Teacher Script.
- Gather drawing paper and crayons/markers for the Warm Up: Unique Me! Drawing Activity.
- Prepare construction paper in various colors, paint (different colors), and wipes for the Our Colorful World Handprint Activity. Ensure adequate space for drying. Consider using stamp pads if paint is too messy.
- Ensure you have a board or chart paper ready for the Cool Down activity. Make sure the materials are accessible and organized before class.
Step 1
Warm Up: Unique Me! (3 minutes)
3 minutes
- Distribute drawing paper and crayons/markers to each student.
- Instruct students to draw something that makes them unique or special (e.g., a hobby, a family tradition, a favorite food).
- Encourage them to think about what makes them them! (Warm Up: Unique Me! Drawing Activity)
Step 2
Introduction to Diversity (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Use the Our Colorful World Slide Deck and Teacher Script to introduce the concept of diversity.
- Begin by having a few students share their drawings from the warm-up, highlighting how different ideas and creations make our class interesting.
Step 3
Our Colorful Handprints Activity (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Explain the Our Colorful World Handprint Activity where each student will make a handprint.
- Guide students through the process, emphasizing that each unique handprint contributes to a beautiful classroom mural of diversity.
- Assist as needed with paint and paper.
Step 4
Cool Down: One Word Wonders (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Lead the Cool Down: One Word Wonders activity.
- Have students share one word that describes how they feel about celebrating differences as they leave or transition to the next activity.
- Collect handprints for display.
Slide Deck
Our Colorful World!
Let's explore what makes us all unique and special!
Welcome students and prepare them for a fun and engaging lesson about what makes each of them special and how we can celebrate everyone's differences.
What Makes You, YOU?
Think about all the things that make you special!
- Your favorite color
- Your family's traditions
- The language you speak
- Your favorite games
Introduce the idea that just like colors in a rainbow, people are different. Ask guiding questions: What are some ways people can be different? (e.g., hair color, favorite games, family traditions). Emphasize that these differences make our world more interesting.
What is Diversity?
Diversity means having many different kinds of people!
Imagine a garden with all kinds of flowers. Some are tall, some are short, some are red, some are blue. It's beautiful because of all the differences!
Our classroom is like that garden. Each of us is a unique and wonderful flower!
Explain that 'diversity' means having lots of different kinds of people. Just like a garden with many different flowers, a classroom with many different people is beautiful. Emphasize that diversity makes our class and world exciting and strong. Refer back to their warm-up drawings.
Making Our Class Handprint Mural
Let's create something beautiful together that shows our amazing class diversity!
Each handprint will represent one of you, a unique and special part of our colorful world.
When we put them all together, we'll see how wonderful our differences are!
Introduce the handprint activity. Explain that each handprint represents a unique person, and when we put them together, they create a beautiful tapestry of our class. Connect it to the idea of celebrating everyone's 'color' or uniqueness.
Celebrating Our Differences
Our differences make us special!
- Be kind to everyone.
- Learn from each other.
- Celebrate what makes each person unique!
Conclude by reiterating that our differences are something to celebrate. Encourage students to think about how they can show respect and kindness to everyone, no matter how different they seem. Ask them to remember the 'one word' they shared during the cool-down.
Warm Up
Warm Up: Unique Me!
Draw something that makes you unique or special! It could be a hobby you love, a special tradition your family has, a favorite food, or anything else that makes you, YOU!
Script
Our Colorful World: Teacher Script
## Warm Up: Unique Me! (3 minutes)
(Teacher distributes drawing paper and crayons/markers.)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to start with a fun activity. I want you to draw something that makes you unique or special. It could be a hobby you love, a special tradition your family has, a favorite food, or anything else that makes you, YOU! You have about 3 minutes to draw."
(Teacher walks around, offering encouragement and light commentary on drawings. Refer to Warm Up: Unique Me! Drawing Activity)
## Introduction to Diversity (5 minutes)
(Teacher transitions to the Our Colorful World Slide Deck, Slide 1: "Our Colorful World!")
Teacher: "Wow, what amazing drawings! It's so cool to see all the different things that make each of you special. Can a few friends share what they drew and why it's special to them?"
(Teacher calls on 2-3 students to share, briefly highlighting the uniqueness of each response.)
Teacher: "That's wonderful! You know, when we talk about all the different things that make us special, we're talking about something called diversity. Can everyone say 'diversity' with me?"
(Students repeat 'diversity'. Teacher moves to Slide 2: "What Makes You, YOU?")
Teacher: "Diversity means having many different kinds of people! Just look around our classroom. We all have different hair colors, different favorite games, some of us might speak different languages at home, or celebrate different holidays. Isn't that amazing?"
(Teacher moves to Slide 3: "What is Diversity?")
Teacher: "Imagine a garden. If all the flowers were exactly the same, it might be pretty, but a garden with all kinds of flowers – tall ones, short ones, red ones, blue ones – is even more beautiful, right? Our classroom is just like that garden! Each of you is a unique and wonderful flower. Your differences make our class colorful and exciting!"
## Our Colorful Handprints Activity (5 minutes)
(Teacher moves to Slide 4: "Making Our Class Handprint Mural")
Teacher: "To celebrate our amazing classroom diversity, we're going to create something beautiful together! We're going to make a class handprint mural. Each of your handprints will represent one of you, a unique and special part of our colorful world."
(Teacher explains the Our Colorful World Handprint Activity instructions clearly, demonstrating if necessary. Guides students to their stations for the activity.)
Teacher: "Remember, your handprint is special because it's yours. When we put all these unique handprints together, we'll see how wonderful our differences are when they come together!"
(Teacher supervises and assists students with the handprint activity, ensuring they write their names.)
## Cool Down: One Word Wonders (2 minutes)
(Teacher helps students clean up and collects their handprints for drying. Teacher moves to Slide 5: "Celebrating Our Differences")
Teacher: "Fantastic work everyone! As we wrap up today, I want you to think about what we learned. Our differences make us special and beautiful. On your way out the door, or as you transition to our next activity, I want you to tell me just ONE word that describes how you feel about celebrating differences. What's one word that comes to mind?"
(Teacher encourages students to share their words. Optionally, writes them on a board as part of the Cool Down: One Word Wonders activity.)
Teacher: "Those are wonderful words! Remember to always be kind, learn from each other, and celebrate what makes each person unique. Our colorful world is amazing because of all of you!"
Activity
Our Colorful World Handprint Activity
Materials: Construction paper (various colors), child-safe paint (various colors) or stamp pads, wipes/paper towels.
Instructions:
1. Choose a color of construction paper for your background.
2. Choose a paint color that you like!
3. Dip your hand into the paint (or onto the stamp pad) and make a handprint on your paper.
4. Write your name next to your handprint.
5. Once dry, we will put all our handprints together to make a beautiful
Cool Down
Cool Down: One Word Wonders
Think about what we learned today about diversity and how special it is that we are all unique.
On your way out, share ONE word that describes how you feel about celebrating differences.
Examples:
- Happy
- Kind
- Unique
- Together
- Colorful