How Do You Mix It Up? Let’s Count the Ways

Mix It Up at Lunch Day is here again! Tens of thousands of teachers, counselors and administrators made it possible. But a big hand has to go to the students. It takes a lot of courage to cross social barriers, and today’s Mix It Up students made the effort. That allowed awkward conversations with strangers to become fun discussions with new friends.

Mix It Up is a national celebration of diversity, and it was celebrated in diverse ways. Here are just a few:

• Students at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Okla., came up with a great way to promote Mix It Up at their school. They held a flash mob that sang and danced to Jai Ho, the song from Slumdog Millionaire. "Students chose this song as yet another encouragement to 'diversify,'" one organizer said. “The English translation of ‘Jai Ho' is ‘be victorious.' We are encouraging students of all groups, races, ethnicities, clubs, sports and more to work together on one unifying project." Check this out!

• Student at Coralville Central Elementary School in Coralville, Iowa, enjoyed a more traditional approach to Mix It Up. They were given different colored suckers. The ends of Dum-Dum pops were dipped in various paint colors, and students with matching colors sat together. “It’s fun to meet new friends and maybe be able to play with them,” said Allie Schmitt-Morris, a Coralville Central fourth grader.

• Stereotypes and cliques are not a big problem yet for kindergartners at John Jacob Astor Elementary in Astoria, Ore. But the school wants to keep it that by holding Mix It Up at Lunch Day. The day’s activities reinforced what teachers are already teaching in the classroom—and, hopefully, what parents are doing at home. Kindergartner Dietrich Allen recently moved to Astoria. He said Mix It Up reminded him of how he felt when he met all the kids at school for the first time. “It makes me feel happy inside,” the five-year-old said with a proud smile. The children he met were friendly and fun, and he's excited to meet more.

• K-12 students were not the only ones enjoying Mix It Up at Lunch today. Employees at the University of the Rockies in San Diego were asked to have lunch with colleagues outside their usual circle of co-workers. Staff members also helped facilitate Mix It Up events at three local elementary schools. "Although National Mix It Up at Lunch Day was created to foster understanding among primary school students, I think it is an ideal opportunity for all of us to change our routines and interact with new people," said university president Charlita Shelton.

Mix It Up has always been about tearing down walls that separate people. More than 2,900 schools participated this year. That means a lot of walls came crashing down—and all thanks to you.

What did your school do for Mix It Up Day? Leave a note on the “comments” section and share your experiences.

Price is managing editor of Teaching Tolerance.