Mapmaking and Boundary Crossing for Mix It Up

Some students—and others—may ask, “Why do we need Mix It Up at Lunch Day?” A good way to lead them to their own answers is to carry out group or classroom activities designed to explore issues of social boundaries.

We offer a rich mix of classroom resources on the topic, designed for all grade levels and multiple subject areas. You can browse on your own [2] or consider a few we’ve highlighted below:

Boundary Crossing [3]—Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Using the historical context of the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954, students will explore the question, “Have we really learned how to break down barriers?” Students will first examine boundary crossings in history and literature, and then they will identify and learn to cross boundaries in their own classroom and school.

Mapping Activity—Elementary [4] (Grades 3-5) and Upper Grades [5] (6-8 and 9-12)
In the lower grades lesson, students map out key relationships in their classroom, reflecting on how their own choices set the mood for inclusion or exclusion. Students also will make efforts to reach out to classmates with whom they normally do not interact.

The upper grades lesson asks students to examine school teams, groups and organizations. These school-sanctioned groups help students define identity, increase academic commitment to school and build student friendships. But they often stay to themselves instead of reaching out to others. This activity asks students to consider ways they might “cross-pollinate” in order to make their school experience more fruitful.

Mix It Up at Lunch Day is Oct. 30!
Questions about Mix It Up? Ideas for Mix It Up organizers at other schools? Other thoughts? We welcome feedback–and can respond to questions–on Facebook [6] or Twitter [7]. You can also browse our free Mix It Up resources [8] online.