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Classroom Resources

Stand Up! [1]

This activity will remind students that no one deserves to be bullied and that everyone has a responsibility to report unkind acts.

Activity
Bullying [2]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Peaceful Lessons from Peaceful Leaders: Tri-Leadership [12]

This shortest month of the year is typically filled with history reports, pageants, guest speakers, cultural fairs and the like. Seldom a day goes by that we don't hear the names of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Madame C.J. Walker, George Washington Carver, and so on.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Action [3]|Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Math and Technology [8]

Women Who Inform Our World [16]

Many schools observe Women's History Month as a way to highlight contributions women have made in the past. This month, Mix It Up encourages you to help students explore the positive impact of girls and women on their own lives and communities today.

Activity
Gender Equity [17]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Science and Health [9]

Fighting Hunger [19]

This lesson encourages students to investigate domestic hunger in the United States as well as in their own communities and offers resources to support youth in the fight against hunger.

Activity
Rights [20]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Social Studies [7]

More Than Migrants [21]

Projects that examine various aspects of  migrant life in depth

Activity
Immigration [22]
Justice [14]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]

Blues Music Activity [23]

A guide to classroom activities exploring arguments about what blues music is "authentic"

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [24]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Arts [10]

School Mascots Explored [25]

Use these ideas in the classroom to explore racial and ethnic imagery in school mascots.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Social Studies [7]

Using Obama's Speech on Race in the Classroom [26]

Three new lesson plans for grades 9-12 offer educators fresh, engaging strategies to deepen students' understanding about race and racism throughout history and today.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Justice [14]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Oral History and Civil Rights [27]

Little Rock isn't the only city or town with a civil rights history.

Activity
Events [28]
Action [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Air Quality [29]

Create a lesson plan that puts math and science in context for your students.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [13]|Wealth and Poverty [24]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]

Put-Ups [30]

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 boundaries.

Activity
School Culture [31]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]

Romeo and Juliet Mix-It-Up [32]

Shakespeare’s classic play is a must-read for all high school students. Might the tragic end of Romeo & Juliet have been different if the Montagues and the Capulets had crossed their social boundaries?

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]

Controversial Issues [34]

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 gracefully. This activity invites students to cross their ideological boundaries and become friends with others who think differently than they do.

Activity
School Culture [31]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Celebrate Each Other [35]

On the first day of each school year, my students and I form a circle and I ask them these questions:

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Diversity [18]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Brush Up on Respect [38]

Whenever I feel that students are starting to pick on each other and get disrespectful, I use this activity to get them to think about their behavior. For this activity, you need a tube of toothpaste, a four-by-six index card, a marker, a popsicle stick and a toothpick.

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Discrimination in Banned Books [39]

The last week of September is Banned Books Week. Many teachers use the event to talk about free speech with their students. I also use it to begin a conversation about discrimination.

Activity Exchange
Rights [20]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]
Reading and Language Arts [6]

Core Samples [40]

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 core values, much like core samples.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Science and Health [9]|ELL / ESL [11]

Rooting Out Termites [41]

Termites, small and overlooked, can knock down forests and turn buildings to powder; intolerance operates in much the same way.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Action [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Linguistic Tolerance [42]

I am a Spanish Language teacher and I have students who are from Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina and many different Spanish-speaking countries. I find the diversity in the Spanish-speaking community to be truly fascinating. We Spanish speakers are not all alike, as popular media often portray us. Because I am teaching language, I use the diversity of Spanish to highlight the diversity of our community.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Diversity [18]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|ELL / ESL [11]

Census Activities [43]

Explore the U.S. Census data and create your own!

Activity
Rights [20]
Action [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]

Should Your Hairstyle Be A Constitutional Right? [44]

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.

Activity
School Culture [31]
Identity [45]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Hairy Tales [46]

I capitalized on my 10th-graders’ obsession with their hair by devising a writing exercise that I hoped would open a dialogue between my black and white students. As part of a unit on individuality, I had them write a “hair-ography”—an autobiography told from the viewpoint of one’s hair.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Diversity [18]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]

Mixing and Mattering [47]

Last year at Seth Johnson Elementary, in Montgomery, Ala., the fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in the National Mix It Up at Lunch Day. In preparation for the day, we challenged fifth-graders to think about how they matter to the people around them – and to write essays titled “We All Matter.”

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Social Studies [7]

Letters to the Editor [48]

Students identify parts of arguments – using the ARE framework [49] – by reading and evaluating letters to the editor. They identify weaknesses and strengths of letters, suggesting improvements to arguments used within the letters.

Activity
Media Literacy [50]
Action [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]

The Assertion Jar [51]

Students produce assertions on slips of paper and “stock” the classroom Assertion Jar. As a daily or occasional activity, students practice refutation skills by pulling an assertion from the jar and refuting it either orally or in writing. Appropriate as a writing prompt or journal activity.

Activity
Rights [20]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Math and Technology [8]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

The Color of Freedom [52]

We developed a unit based on common children’s  books on the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights Movement.

Activity Exchange
Philosophy and Tactics [53]
Justice [14]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Social Studies [7]

A Song for Anti-Bullying [54]

This activity involves a simple song that can help younger students deal with the issue of bullying and bullies.

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Action [3]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]
Social Studies [7]

Gender Stereotyping Awareness [55]

During my career unit with seventh-graders, I take the opportunity to look at gender stereotyping in the work force. After students have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with careers, I challenge their learning with a game similar to the old game show “Password.”

Activity Exchange
Gender Expression [56]
Justice [14]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Science and Health [9]|ELL / ESL [11]

The Resurgence of Hate [57]

The purpose of this activity is to take a look at one of the most famous hate groups, try to understand why its members believe the way they do and learn what can be done to stop hate groups from returning to their historic levels of power and influence.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]
Social Studies [7]

Linguicism [58]

We all know each other’s names, but do we know the stories of our names?

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [13]
Justice [14]
Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]

Poverty and Natural Disasters: Exploring the Connections [59]

In 1989 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck San Francisco. Sixty-three people died. This year, a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti. A month after the disaster the Haitian government estimates that more than 200,000 people died. Why the huge difference? In this lesson students will answer that question as they identify and explore connections between poverty and natural disasters. 

Activity
Bullying [2]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

The Gift of Community [60]

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 what make our communities special. 

Activity
School Culture [31]
Diversity [18]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Science and Health [9]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Using Editorial Cartoons to Teach Social Justice [61]

Using Editorial Cartoons to Teach Social Justice is a series of 14 lessons. Each lesson focuses on a contemporary social justice issue. These lessons are multidisciplinary and geared toward middle and high school students.

Activity
Media Literacy [50]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Arts [10]|ELL / ESL [11]

Compliment Tag! (Lunch Day Mixer) [62]

As an elementary school counselor, I am continually amazed at the number of students who do not know how to give and receive a compliment. Students seem to have no trouble, however, with the occasional teasing or name-calling.

Activity Exchange
Mix It Up [33]
Action [3]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Who We REALLY Are [63]

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 think about their inner selves. It also allows them to explore metaphor, other poetic language and visual artistic expression as they get to know themselves and one another better.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Justice [14]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Let the Hot Air Out of Bullies! [64]

Here is an activity that is fun and teaches kids to recognize the problems associated with bullying.

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|Science and Health [9]|ELL / ESL [11]

Stars for Diversity [65]

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 different colors (any shape of stickers may be used). 

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Action [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Building a Bridge of Understanding [66]

Each year in my art room, I introduce a unit of study focused on the art and culture of another country or region. This year I decided to focus on Islamic art and culture. Since I provide art instruction to approximately 500 students in my little corner of the world, I thought this focus would be an opportunity to help build a bridge between Muslim students and non-Muslim students and begin a dialogue about Islam.

Activity Exchange
Religion [67]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

A Social Justice Study [68]

I am an eighth-grade language arts teacher in Durham, New Hampshire. My students have grown up in an environment where there is very little exposure to ethnic, racial or LGBT communities. They are ripe for learning, and are in a unique position to “be” the change. 

Activity Exchange
Rights [20]
Justice [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

Top Ten Ways to Be Successful (and Happy) in Literacy (and in Life) [69]

One language arts educator's guidance for her new students.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [31]
Action [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]

Charity and Justice: What’s the Difference? [70]

This lesson has students distinguish between charity (volunteering in a soup kitchen) and justice (working to end the inequalities that make soup kitchens necessary). It asks students to think about root causes (inequality) versus symptoms (poverty that leads to the need for soup kitchens). 

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [24]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
Reading and Language Arts [6]|Social Studies [7]|ELL / ESL [11]

That’s Teamwork (Lunch Day Mixer) [71]

Based on Mix It Up: Score One for Humanity [72]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]

Human Scavenger Hunt (Lunch Day Mixer) [73]

Based on Mixing It Up with Purpose [74]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]

Mix It Up With a Deck of Cards (Lunch Day Mixer) [75]

Based on Mixing It Up with Purpose [74]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]

Buddies (Lunch Day Mixer) [76]

Based on Musical Chairs [77]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Pre K to K [36]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]

It’s About Me (Lunch Day Mixer) [78]

Loosely based on "What Are You?" [79]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]

What’s Your Name? (Lunch Day Mixer) [80]

Based on Crossing Borders/Border Crossings [81] and What's In a Name?" [82]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [4]|Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]

Fact or Fiction (Lunch Day Mixer) [83]

Based on Icebreakers and Introductions [84]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]

Building Sentences and Stories (Lunch Day Mixer) [85]

Students sit at tables with students they don’t usually sit with.

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]

Making New Friends (Lunch Day Mixer) [86]

Based on Musical Chairs [77]

Activity
Mix It Up [33]
Diversity [18]
Grades 6 to 8 [5]|Grades 9 to 12 [15]
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Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/stand
[2] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/bullying
[3] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/action
[4] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/grades-3-5
[5] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/grades-6-8
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[12] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/peaceful-lessons-peaceful-leaders-tri-leadership
[13] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/race-and-ethnicity
[14] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/justice
[15] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/grades-9-12
[16] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/women-who-inform-our-world
[17] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/gender-equity
[18] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/diversity
[19] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/fighting-hunger
[20] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/rights
[21] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/more-migrants
[22] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/immigration
[23] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/blues-music-activity
[24] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/wealth-and-poverty
[25] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/school-mascots-explored
[26] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/using-obamas-speech-race-classroom
[27] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/oral-history-and-civil-rights
[28] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/events
[29] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/air-quality
[30] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/put-ups
[31] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/school-culture
[32] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/romeo-and-juliet-mix-it
[33] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/mix-it
[34] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/controversial-issues
[35] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/celebrate-each-other
[36] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/pre-k-k
[37] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/grades-1-2
[38] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/brush-respect
[39] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/discrimination-banned-books
[40] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/core-samples
[41] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/rooting-out-termites
[42] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/linguistic-tolerance
[43] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/census-activities
[44] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/should-your-hairstyle-be-constitutional-right
[45] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/identity
[46] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/hairy-tales
[47] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/mixing-and-mattering
[48] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/letters-editor
[49] http://www.tolerance.org/publication/civil-discourse-classroom/chapter-2-building-blocks-civil-discourse
[50] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/media-literacy
[51] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/assertion-jar
[52] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/color-freedom
[53] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/philosophy-and-tactics
[54] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/song-anti-bullying
[55] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/gender-stereotyping-awareness
[56] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/gender-expression
[57] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/resurgence-hate
[58] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/linguicism
[59] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/poverty-and-natural-disasters-exploring-connections
[60] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/gift-community
[61] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/using-editorial-cartoons-teach-social-justice
[62] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/compliment-tag-lunch-day-mixer
[63] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/who-we-really-are
[64] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/let-hot-air-out-bullies
[65] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/stars-diversity
[66] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/building-bridge-understanding
[67] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/religion
[68] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/social-justice-study
[69] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/top-ten-ways-be-successful-and-happy-literacy-and-life
[70] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/charity-and-justice-what-s-difference
[71] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/s-teamwork-lunch-day-mixer
[72] http://www.tolerance.org/blog/mix-it-score-one-humanity
[73] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/human-scavenger-hunt-lunch-day-mixer
[74] http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-38-fall-2010/mixing-it-purpose
[75] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/mix-it-deck-cards-lunch-day-mixer
[76] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/buddies-lunch-day-mixer
[77] http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-12-fall-1997/musical-chairs
[78] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/it-s-about-me-lunch-day-mixer
[79] http://www.tolerance.org/resource/what-are-you
[80] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/what-s-your-name-lunch-day-mixer
[81] http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-28-fall-2005/crossing-bordersborder-crossings
[82] http://www.edweb.fdu.edu/anyfile/JoshiK/Whatsinaname.pdf
[83] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/fact-or-fiction-lunch-day-mixer
[84] http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/5tools/5icebreak/icebreak2.htm
[85] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/building-sentences-and-stories-lunch-day-mixer
[86] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/making-new-friends-lunch-day-mixer
[87] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources
[88] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=3
[89] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=1
[90] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=2
[91] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=5
[92] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=6
[93] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=7
[94] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=8
[95] http://www.tolerance.org/classroom-resources?page=9