Our Wonderful World: Lesson Script

Warm-Up: My Favorite Things (5 minutes)

(Teacher says while students are settling in or starting the warm-up activity)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! I am so excited to start our special lesson today. We're going to talk about something really cool: all the amazing things that make each of us special and how wonderful our world is because of it!"

"To get us started, let's do a quick 'My Favorite Things' warm-up. Think about one thing that makes you, YOU! Maybe it's your favorite food, a special hobby, or a fun family tradition. It could be anything that you think is unique or special about you or your family. Take a moment to think about it."

(After a minute or so)

"Who would like to share one of their favorite things, or something special about them? Raise your hand if you're ready to share!"

(Facilitate sharing for a few students. Affirm each student's unique contribution.)

"Wow! Look at all the different and exciting things we just heard! It's so cool how everyone has something unique and special about them. That's what we're going to explore more today!"

Introduction to Diversity (10 minutes)

(Teacher moves to Our Wonderful World Slide Deck - Slide 1: 'Our Wonderful World')

"Take a look at our first slide! Today, we're going on an adventure to explore 'Our Wonderful World' and celebrate all the amazing differences that make it so special."

(Teacher moves to Slide 2: 'What Makes You, YOU?')

"We just talked about some of the things that make each of you unique. Every single person in this classroom is special and has their own story. And guess what? Our families, our communities, and even countries around the world have special ways of doing things too!"

(Teacher moves to Slide 3: 'What is Culture?')

"Has anyone ever heard the word 'culture' before?


(Pause for responses)

"That's right! Culture is like a special way of life for a group of people. It includes things like their food, the music they listen to, the stories they tell, the holidays they celebrate, and how they show respect or celebrate big moments."

(Teacher moves to Slide 4: 'Customs & Traditions Around the World')

"Two words that often go with culture are 'customs' and 'traditions.' Customs are like special ways we do things, like how we say hello or how we eat. Traditions are special things we do over and over, often with our family or friends, like celebrating a holiday every year."

"Let's think about some customs or traditions you might know. For example, some people shake hands to say hello, others might bow, and some might give a hug. Does anyone have a family tradition they'd like to share, like a special meal or a way you celebrate a birthday?"

(Facilitate a brief large group discussion using selected Discussion Prompts as needed. Encourage respectful listening.)

"Those are fantastic examples! It's so interesting to hear about all the different ways we live and celebrate."

(Teacher moves to Slide 5: 'A World Full of Wonders!')

"Now, let's look at some pictures that show just how many wonderful ways people live all over the world!"

(Briefly describe images on the slide, pointing out different clothing, food, celebrations, etc. Emphasize beauty in diversity.)

"Isn't it amazing how much there is to learn? The world is like a giant, colorful puzzle, and every person, every culture, is an important piece!"

Activity: Cultural Explorer (15 minutes)

"Okay, my little cultural explorers! Now it's time to become super detectives! I'm going to divide you into small groups."

(Divide students into small groups.)

"Each group will get a special ‘Cultural Explorer’ Activity Card that describes a simple custom or tradition from a different culture. Your job is to read it, talk about it with your group, and think about how it might be similar or different from things you know."

"After you've discussed your card, each of you will get your own ‘Passport to Uniqueness’ Activity Worksheet. On one side, you'll draw or write about one new custom or tradition you learned today – maybe from your card, or something we saw on the slides! On the other side, you'll draw or write about one unique thing about yourself, just like we talked about at the beginning of class."

"You'll also have some art supplies to make your passports colorful and exciting. I'll be walking around to help if you have questions or want to share what you're discovering!"

(Circulate, assist groups, and encourage discussion.)

Game: Tradition Charades (10 minutes)

"Alright, cultural explorers, let's come back together as a big group! Did you enjoy learning about new customs?"

"Now, let's play a fun game called 'Tradition Charades'! I have some ‘Tradition Charades’ Game Cards here. Each card has a different custom or tradition. Who wants to volunteer to pick a card and act out the tradition without speaking? The rest of us will guess!"

(Facilitate the game. Encourage guesses and discuss the traditions briefly after each round. Remind students that these are examples and not all people from a certain culture do things the exact same way.)

"You all did a wonderful job! It's so much fun to see and learn about all these different ways people do things."

Cool-Down: One Thing I Learned (5 minutes)

(Teacher moves to Slide 6: 'Respecting & Celebrating Differences')

"Before we finish our amazing journey today, let's think about what we've learned. It's so important that we respect and celebrate all the different cultures, customs, and traditions in our world. Our differences make our classrooms, our communities, and our world more colorful and exciting!"

(Teacher moves to Slide 7: 'Our Diverse World is a Beautiful World!')

"For our cool-down today, I want each of you to tell me 'One Thing I Learned' or one thing you found really interesting about our lesson on uniqueness and diversity. You can write it down or draw it on your Cool-Down: 'One Thing I Learned' sheet."

(Collect cool-down sheets as students leave or as an exit ticket.)

"Thank you all for being such thoughtful and curious cultural explorers today! Remember, our diverse world is a beautiful world, and each of you helps make it that way!"

Discussion Prompts: Celebrating Our Wonderful World

Use these prompts during the large group discussion segments to encourage student participation and critical thinking.

Introduction to Diversity

1. What does the word "different" mean to you? Is it a good thing to be different? Why or why not?
   
   
   
2. Can you think of any special ways your family or friends celebrate birthdays, holidays, or other important events?
   
   
   
3. Have you ever noticed people doing things in a way that was new or different to you? What was it, and how did it make you feel? (e.g., a different language spoken, different foods eaten, different clothes worn)
   
   
   

Respecting & Celebrating Differences

1. Why is it important to learn about other people's cultures and traditions?
   
   
   
2. What are some ways we can show respect to people who have different customs or traditions than us?
   
   
   
3. How does having many different cultures and traditions make our classroom, school, or community more interesting and fun?
   
   
   
4. What is one new thing you learned or found interesting about another culture today?

Cultural Explorer Activity Cards

Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards and cut them out. Distribute one card per small group during the "Cultural Explorer" activity.

Card 1: Japan

In Japan, it is a custom to bow to say hello, thank you, or show respect. The deeper the bow, the more respect is shown!

Card 2: India

In India, people celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. They light lamps, share sweets, and sometimes set off fireworks to celebrate good winning over evil.

Card 3: Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, it is a special tradition to have a coffee ceremony. They roast coffee beans, grind them, and brew fresh coffee to share with guests, showing hospitality and friendship.

Card 4: Mexico

In Mexico, during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), families build altars with photos, favorite foods, and flowers to remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away. It's a joyful celebration of life!

Card 5: Maasai (Kenya/Tanzania)

For the Maasai people, jumping dances are an important tradition. Warriors perform amazing high jumps to show their strength and impress others. It's a sign of their culture!

Card 6: France

In France, it is a custom to greet friends and family with a kiss on each cheek (or one kiss, depending on the region). This is a friendly way to say hello or goodbye.

Card 7: China

During the Lunar New Year in China, it's a tradition for children to receive red envelopes filled with money from older family members. These symbolize good luck and blessings for the new year.

Card 8: Native American Powwow

Many Native American tribes have Powwows, which are gatherings where people from different tribes come together to sing, dance, socialize, and honor their cultures and traditions. Dancers often wear beautiful, colorful regalia.

My Passport to Uniqueness

Instructions: In the first section, draw or write about one new custom or tradition you learned today from another culture. In the second section, draw or write about one unique thing about yourself or your family!

🌍 A New Custom I Explored!

What new custom or tradition did you learn about today?

Where is this custom from?

Draw or write about it here:

✨ What Makes Me Unique?

What is one special or unique thing about YOU or your family?

Draw or write about it here:

Tradition Charades Game Cards

Instructions for Teacher: Print these cards and cut them out. Have students pick a card and act out the tradition for their classmates to guess. Remind students that these are examples and not stereotypes.

Card 1

Waving Hello (a common greeting in many places)

Card 2

Bowing to say thank you (a custom in some East Asian cultures)

Card 3

Eating with chopsticks (a way of eating in many Asian cultures)

Card 4

Dancing at a festival (celebrating with music and movement)

Card 5

Giving a high five (a friendly greeting or celebration)

Card 6

Making a special dish (preparing a traditional food)

Card 7

Playing a traditional drum (making music with a cultural instrument)

Card 8

Giving a gift with two hands (a sign of respect in some cultures)

Warm-Up: My Favorite Things!

Instructions: Think about one thing that makes you special and unique! It could be:

• Your favorite food
• A special hobby you love
• A family tradition you have
• Something you are really good at

Be ready to share your special thing with the class!

My Special/Unique Thing Is:

Cool-Down: One Thing I Learned

Instructions: What is one new thing you learned or found interesting today about different cultures, traditions, or what makes people unique?

Write or draw your answer below!