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?
Do we all have the same skin?
Do we all wear the same clothes?
Then I have them look around at each other and themselves so they realize that everyone is different. I ask them, “How would I know who you were if you all looked alike?” “Is it nice that we are different?” After the discussion, I get out art supplies and exclaim, “Let’s celebrate that we are all special!”
I bring out a package of precut cardboard doll cutouts in a variety of skin colors. Students are encouraged to choose the one that is closest to their skin color. I provide construction paper, yarn, sequins and other easily available craft supplies. Students choose what they need to make their doll represent themselves. They choose yarn to match their hair, colored shaky eyes to match their eye color and construction paper to match their clothes. Students who wear glasses are encouraged to draw those with a marker. We begin the year by proudly making ourselves, and it is a joy to see the children taking such care and pride in their representations.
After each doll is complete, we add names to the front and use them on our classroom responsibility board. Each student is given a job each week and their doll is proudly displayed next to that job to identify that it is their responsibility. This way, we extend the use of the diversity lesson into our daily responsibilities.
Because it asks students to identify racial characteristics by creating a doll that best represents who they are, this activity can introduce race to even the youngest of children. Students from different racial groups may find that they “match,” sparking deeper conversations about race and ethnicity. You can follow up by introducing wonderful early children’s literature like The Skin You Live In (order it at www.ipgbook.com for $14.95) and Skin Again (www.jumpatthesun.com for $16.99). Having students talk about their own doll and how they relate to dolls of other colors is a great way to begin children on the lifelong dialogue needed to heal race relations in our schools and communities.
Sara Ipatenco
Bethlehem Lutheran School
Lakewood, Colo.
Use music to enhance this lesson for young children by ordering We Are Family: A Musical Message For All ($7) at www.wearefamilyfoundation.org. This charming sing-along DVD has young children’s favorites like SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends. Children can dance along with their dolls to celebrate the family of the human race.
