School Culture

Teaching the Levees: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Community Problem Solving: Activity Exchange

“Teaching the Levees” is an instructional resource provided by Columbia University Teacher’s College to support democratic dialogue and civic engagement about the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The curriculum model provides opportunities for ...
Our Groups of Friends: Activity Exchange

In this activity, students examine the diversity of their groups of friends. First, on a labeled color-coded chart , students write under each of their names the name of an adult ...
Using Tootsie Roll Pops to Teach Tolerance: Activity Exchange

This activity helps students increase respect for differences and gain a deeper understanding of universal similarities. Draw two columns on the board, labeled “On the Outside” and ...
The People Puzzle: Activity Exchange

Each fall, I look forward to the joy and adventures of teaching new students. The more the students and I understand about one another, the richer their learning experiences. In ...
Debating Corporal Punishment: Activity Exchange

In 2011, 20 states permitted corporal punishment in public schools. Many students who live outside those states find it hard to believe that corporal punishment still exists. This ...
A Healthy Way to Show Feelings: Activity Exchange

Individuals of all ages can find it difficult to identify and express their feelings in a positive way. At the elementary level, many students need a springboard for discussion. This ...
Developing Empathy: Lesson

In this lesson, students will gain a better understanding of what it means to be empathetic and be able to identify behaviors that show empathy toward others. Framework When ...
Act it Out: Activity Exchange

I teach writing and drama for seventh- through 12th-grade students who are home-schooled, financially secure and white. Racial and religious stereotyping issues frequently come up in ...
Quilting Our Diverse Classroom: Activity Exchange

Students create quilt pieces that tell the world something important about themselves in order to build an environment conducive to learning. Students developed a new camaraderie among each other that ...
Everyone’s a Helper: Lesson

This lesson helps children identify their own strengths and struggles. Students will work on ways to bring all their strengths together to build a classroom community. Building a ...
Top Ten Ways to Be Successful (and Happy) in Literacy (and in Life): Activity Exchange

One language arts educator's guidance for her new students. 10. Remain calm. Try to avoid banging your head against the table (or the wall) (or the window) (or another ...
Stars for Diversity: Activity Exchange

This is one of my favorite tolerance activities. It helps students think about leaving others out of groups and tolerating differences within the classroom. You will need many small self-adhesive stars of six ...
Who We REALLY Are: Activity Exchange

Sometimes students get stuck on superficial notions of identity, both in understanding themselves and in looking at their classmates. This activity uses literature to challenge stereotypes and help children ...
It’s Okay to Feel Different: Lesson

The beginning of the school year is such an exciting time. Students and teachers arrive full of dreams, goals and enthusiasm. There are the prospects of new friends, interesting learning and becoming part of ...
Cliques in Schools: Lesson

Friendship circles are groups of people who share some common interests or values. They can be healthy, nurturing and supportive. Being bonded to others because of a shared love of sports, music or ...
Reading for Social Justice: Lesson

It is often said that reading opens up new worlds. It also opens up the opportunity to ask deep questions about the world that we—and the literature we read—exist in. Book clubs or literature circles are one ...
Defusing School Violence: Lesson

In this lesson, students imagine themselves attending a high school that is polarized by violence between U.S.-born students and foreign-born African immigrants. After learning about the situation, students ...
The Gift of Community: Activity

Building on the common early grades theme of “neighborhood and community,” this lesson uses a free, downloadable children’s book, “The Gift,” to drive home the idea that people—and their diverse interests—are ...
Hate Crimes Legislation: Lesson

In October 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The new law expands the definition of hate-crime victims, requires additional ...
Ground Rules for Discussion: Lesson

Students work to draw up a list of “ground rules” for classroom discussion through whole class and small group work. Time 50 minutes, plus preparation and optional activities. ...
School Lunches: Cultural Relevancy in the Cafeteria: Lesson

This lesson seeks to open students’ eyes to the variety of experiences that they and their classmates have at lunchtime. By thinking about diverse students’ needs and experiences, students who complete this ...
Should Your Hairstyle Be A Constitutional Right?: Activity

This lesson uses the strategies of “student questioning for purposeful learning” (SQPL) and jigsaw grouping to engage students in examining Constitutional issues related to school-based grooming policies. ...
Rooting Out Termites: Activity Exchange

Termites, small and overlooked, can knock down forests and turn buildings to powder; intolerance operates in much the same way. It’s not uncommon to hear students — including ...
Core Samples: Activity Exchange

Core samples are fascinating columns of rock and mineral cut from deep below the earth's surface with a drill. They are marbled with shades of color. This activity helps students to identify their own ...
Celebrate Each Other: Activity Exchange

On the first day of each school year, my students and I form a circle and I ask them these questions: Do we all have the same hair color? Do we all have the same eyes? ...
Upper Grades Mapping Activity: Lesson

Students are involved in many school teams, groups and organizations. These school-sanctioned groups help students find identity, increase academic commitment to school and give students friendships throughout ...
Controversial Issues: Activity

Students always have passionate opinions about controversial social topics. They also often become friends with others who reinforce their ideology. And students don’t often possess the skills to disagree ...
Elementary Mapping Activity: Lesson

Classroom climate dramatically affects students’ lives on a daily basis. We know that a teacher can set the mood of the classroom, but so can students, through the ways they interact with each other. This ...
Put-Ups: Activity

Students are used to put-downs, but what about put-ups? This activity helps students see the positive things that their schoolmates are doing and gives them skills to affirm each other across social ...
Happy Faces: Lesson

Everyone has a bad day once in a while. This activity helps students be sensitive to schoolmates who might be having a bad day and gives them a way to cross boundaries and bring cheer to others. ...

Teaching Tolerance

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