After participating in this activity, students will be able to identify ways they are similar to and different from peers and understand why diversity is positive.
Give each student a copy of the chain link template worksheet.
Tell students that you will be doing an activity in which they will learn more about similarities and differences. Explore with students why it is positive that we are alike in some ways and different in others. School and life would be boring if we were all exactly the same—we wouldn’t be able to tell each other apart.
To begin the activity, give each student a worksheet, scissors and glue. Each student should talk to six different classmates, determining two positive facts about each—one they share and one they differ on. Students will record these facts on their chain link worksheets. Remind students that they may have to ask each other multiple questions before they are able to find a similarity and a difference. For example: What is your favorite color? Where were you born? What subjects do you like best?
When students have completed all six chain links on the worksheet, have them cut each link along the lines and then glue the ends together, interlocking links to make a chain. After they finish, connect the chains together to create one large chain. Display it in your classroom as a reminder to students of how both our similarities and our differences connect us.
Emily Tweten
Pennock Elementary School
Brighton, Colo.
Check out another fun activity in which students learn more about each other and celebrate classroom diversity at tolerance.org/activity/identity-posters.
Have a good activity idea? drop us a line at editor@teachingtolerance.org with the subject line “Activity Exchange submission.”
