Brooke

=** Developing Intercultural Orientation in the Primary classroom ** =

= “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.” =



= = = __**Teaching Diversity and Intercultural Orientation through Literature________________________________________**__ =

diversity issues.
Read the //Sneeches// aloud to the whole class. Make a class list of class privileges (i.e. lining up first, extra points for tasks, homework passes, extra center time etc). Divide the class into two groups by

assigning students odd/even numbers. Have the odd-numbered half wear green stars or a dot, using

paper or a washable marker. The group that has green stars/dots is granted the privileges on the class list. Allow extended time for all students to have some time in each group; those privileged with stars and those without stars or privileges.

Discuss together the students experiences and the book, //The Sneetches// and students' experiences in small groups:
 * How do the Star-Belly Sneetches look? How do the Plain-Belly Sneetches look?
 * How is the language different for plain and Star-Belly Sneetches?
 * When you were without a star, how did you feel about classmates with stars?
 * What kinds of things do we use as "stars" that make people feel special?
 * What makes you feel like a Plain-Belly Sneetch, a Star-Belly Sneetch?
 * What feelings did you have during the class activity?
 * What lessons did you learn?

Divide students into partners. Have them talk and list three actions they will take to help everyone feel like they belong. Come together and share these actions with everyone. Make a list of suggestions to stop bullying or teasing etc. Challenge the class to put their class list into practice and work to end discrimination.

Extensions:
(reference: [])
 * Assist students in pairing with a classmate that is outside their usual circle of friends.
 * The pairs become "Fairness Teams" for several days and keep a journal of ways that they -- or others they observe -- help end discrimination.
 * Allow a brief time each day for teammates to share their experiences and discuss journal entries.
 * After several days, the whole class meets and discusses the journal entries.
 * Each Fairness Team reflects on what they learned about putting an end to discrimination.
 * Encourage students to set goals for extending the activity to their homes and communities.
 * Team reflections and assessments can be an ongoing activity.

More Literature Ideas to teach Intercultural orientation in the classroom:
> == ==
 * Use books that are sensitive to other cultures and include information about everyday life.
 * Use books that represent the children who are in your class and other ethnic groups.
 * Use books to arouse the children’s imagination and make them aware of human behavior and feelings of others.
 * Use books about other cultures that tell an interesting story and give accurate information.
 * Remove books that have biased language or stereotypical pictures from the classroom. Add books about the benefits of culture.

Websites:
[] [|www.kidactivities.net/post/**Diversity**-with-Language-and-**Literacy**.aspx] [] [|http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/how-choose-best-multicultural-book] []

= __**Teaching Intercultural Orientation Through Art_________________________________________________________**__ =

Activity: Quilt of Many Colors
Read the book, //The Patchwork Quilt// by Valerie Flourney. Brainstorm things the students could draw that would remind them of themselves. (Example, I like to read, good artist, play soccer, likes dinosaurs, loves rainbows, hearts, smiley faces, etc.) Then hand out a 3x3 square of paper to each child. Have them draw a picture that represents them. When all the persons quilt blocks are finished, tape them together on butcher paper in the shape of a quilt and display this special classroom quilt on a wall in the

[[image:drawing_of_diversity.jpeg width="278" height="277" align="right"]]
school. Have a discussion with the students of how each of the pictures represents something special about them and about the class as a whole.

Extensions:
(reference: [] )
 * 1) If they would like, have students share wrote in their journals with the class.
 * 2) Doing interactive writing using descriptive words about a certain quilt or artifact can be fun.
 * 3) Students may bring a special quilt or artifact from home to share with the class.
 * 4) Sharing books mentioned in the additional resources and then discussing how they are alike or different from The Patchwork Quilt is a great activity.

More Art Ideas to teach Intercultural orientation in the classroom

 * Have authentic materials for art activities that reflect rich colors and patterns for children to use.
 * Have magazines available that contain people from diverse groups and locations.
 * Have materials available for multicultural art activities such as skin-color crayons, markers and paint.
 * Choose cultural artwork of prominent people in different cultures to teach and empower young children.

= __**Teaching Diversity through Music/Dance**________________________________________________________________ =

Activity: Children bring in the music their family enjoys
Ask parents to lend you recordings of music that their family enjoys. Teach the children songs and dances from different nations of the world. Children will begin to see that all people like to sing and dance, but every group has its own special ways of doing it. Talk with the children about how different music sounds: loud, soft, fast, or slow. Listen for the different instruments. Again, ask parents if they have any instruments children could listen to or try.

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Songs About Diversity and Embracing our Differences
All Over This World- Two of a Kind All the Children Sing-Wendy Rolling Asikatale-Children of Africa-Traditional Folk Song Because We’re Friends- Music with Mar. Come on Board!- Paulette Meier Different! –Andrew C. Germain’s Life-Skills Everybody is Differently Abled- Lorraine Baynes and Danny Deardorff Family Feeling- Jan Nigro German Cradle Song- Traditional German Lullaby I am Building My House- Joe Crone It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Little- Prue Whoo It’s OK to be Different Prue Whoo

[] __http://www.songsforteaching.com__

= __**Teaching Diversity through Food____________________________________________________________________**__ =

Activity #1 Lemons
Gather a group of young children and give them lemons, one lemon for each child. Tell them to `get to know your lemon." The children will examine their lemons-smell them, touch them, throw them in the air, and roll them around. After a few minutes, take the lemons back and collect them in a big basket. Next, ask the children to find their lemons from among the bunch. Remarkably, most recognize their lemons at once. Some will even get protective of them. Next, ask the children to describe how they recognized their lemons. The responses are always varied. "My lemon was a big lemon," one might say. "My lemon was a perfect lemon," says another. And another, "My lemon had dents and bruises." This launches the discussion about how people are like that-different sizes, different shapes, different shades of color, different "dents and bruises."  After exploring those ideas, collect the lemons again. This time, peel the lemons and return them to the basket without their protective skin. Now tell the children to again find their lemon. Presented with this quandary, the children's reactions are always precious. "But the lemons all look the same!" they'll exclaim. This opens the door to a discussion of how people, much like the lemons, are pretty much the same on the inside. (reference: []) Other ideas for the classroom:

More Ideas using food to teach Intercultural orientation in the classroom

 * Encourage children to experiment with foods other than those with which they are familiar.
 * Give children the opportunity to prepare and eat a variety of foods from other cultures such as spaghetti, stir-fried rice and burritos.
 * Have children’s cookware, dishes and utinsels available such as woks, chopsticks and kettles.
 * Use a wide variety of colorful fruit and vegetables from other cultures to teach and enjoy such as kiwifruit, mangos and plantains.
 * Bring spices to class from a variety of menus for children to smell and use for hands-on activities.

= __**Teaching Intercultural Orientation through Holiday Customs_____________________________________________**__ =

Activity: Learning about Cultures and Customs
The holiday time of year is a perfect opportunity to teach students how to appreciate culture and customs. Two weeks before Christmas vacation, study about the different ways society celebrates the holidays.

1- Include a short introduction about the cultures beliefs and origin. The explanation I found is from Wikipedia with links for more information. Example: Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day [|Jewish holiday] commemorating the rededication of the [|Holy Temple] (the [|Second Temple]) in [|Jerusalem] at the time of the [|Maccabean Revolt] of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of [|Kislev] according to the [|Hebrew calendar], which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the [|Gregorian calendar]. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique [|candelabrum], the nine-branched [|//Menorah//] or //Hanukiah//, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The typical Menorah consists of eight branches with an additional raised branch. The extra light is called a [|//shamash//] ([|Hebrew]: שמש, "attendant" or "sexton")[|[1]] and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The purpose of the //shamash// is to have a light available for use, as using the Hanukkah lights themselves is forbidden.[|[2]]**(reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannaka)**

2- Read books about holiday cultures.
Example: [|//It's Hanukkah!//] by Jeanne Modesitt [|//Light the Lights! A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas//] by Margaret Moorman (reference: []).

Example: Latkes (Potato Pancakes)
Ingredients: 2 cups peeled and shredded potatoes 1 tablespoon grated onion 3 eggs, beaten 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons __salt__ 1/2 cup peanut __oil__ for frying

Place the potatoes in a cheesecloth and wring, extracting as much moisture as possible. In a medium bowl stir the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour and salt together.
 * Directions**

[[image:girls_traditional_dress_dance.jpeg width="393" height="291" align="right" link="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/its-hanukkah"]]
In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil until hot. Place large spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil, pressing down on them to form 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick patties. Brown on one side, turn and brown on the other. Let drain on paper towels. Serve hot! (for recipe, see reference, [])

Example: Create Clay Hanukkah Menorahs.
1. Divide out a portion of clay to all students 2. Shape the clay for the menorah any way you like, as long as it can hold 9 candles (1 candle for each day of the holiday and 1 candle to light with - the Shamas). 3. Flatten out the base so it will stand solidly. 4. Press the candles into the clay, making an opening a bit larger than the candle itself. (Clays shrink when dry). 5. Allow the Menorah to dry. 6. Paint or glaze to finish. 7. Take this opportunity to enhance your class's knowledge of what [|Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights], really means.

(For directions see reference, [])

Example: Driedle Game
Playing with the dreidel is a traditional [|Hanukkah] game played in Jewish homes all over the world, and rules may vary. Here's how to play the basic dreidel game:

1. Any number of people can take part in this great game. 2. Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc. 3. At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot." In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot. 4. Every time it's your turn, spin the dreidel once. Depending on the outcome, you give or get game pieces from the pot:

a) //Nun// means "//nisht//" or "nothing". The player does nothing.  b) //Gimmel// means "//gantz//" or "everything". The player gets everything in the pot. c) //Hey// means "//halb//" or "half". The player gets half of the pot. (If there is an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one.) d) //Shin// (outside of Israel) means //"shtel"// or "put in". //Peh// means "pay." The player adds a game piece to the pot. e) If you find that you have no game pieces left, you are either "out" or may ask a fellow player for a "loan." f) When one person has won everything, that round of the game is over! ([])

More Ideas using cultures and customs to teach Intercultural orientation in the classroom

 * Write about the culture in a Culture and Customs Journal.
 * Compare and Contrast different cultures.
 * Have student bring in items to show that represents their cultures and customs.
 * create stories illustrating and representing different cultures.

Websites for winter holidays around the world
[] []

=References:=
 * //Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center//. Anti-Racism Activity: The Sneetches. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.tolerance.org
 * Utah Lessonplans. (2007, Jun 26). A Quilt of Many Colors. //Utah Education Netwok.// Retreived April 24, 2012, from http://www.uen.org
 * (2002). Multicultural Music and Songs That Build an Appreciation for Diversity. //Songs for Teaching.// Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.songsforteaching.com
 * Stern-Larosa, C. Talking to your Child about Hatred and Prejudice. //ADL//. Retrieved April24, 2012, from http://www.adl.org
 * Modesitt, J. It's Hanukkah!. //Scholastic//. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.scholastic.com
 * (2012, April 2). Hanukkah. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 * Rachel. Potato Latkes I. //allrecipes.com//. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://allrecipes.com
 * Clay Hanukkah Menorah.//TeacherVision//. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.teachervision.fen.com
 * Zion, N. How to Play Dreidel. //My Jewish Learning//. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from http://www.myjewishlearning.com
 * Putatunda, R (2011, Dec 22). Winter Holidays Around the World. //Buzzle.com//. Retrieved April 24,2012, from http://www.buzzle.com