alike and different
Goal 15: Develop understanding and respect for the similarities and differences among people.
Materials: Standing mirror, paper, pencil
Procedure: Invite children two at a time to look into a mirror at themselves and each other. Help them discover characteristics they have in common and things that are different. This is an ideal opportunity to pair students who may be different in physical ability, gender, and appearance to help them discover similarities beyond the obvious. Make two lists: one for likenesses, and and another for differences. Urge the children to start with physical appearance and then move on to other attributes such as interests, ideas, preferences, skills, handedness, number of siblings, letters in their names, etc. Tell partners that as they observe things about each other throughout the day, they can add to their lists. At the end of the day, suggest that children review the list and count how many similarities and differences they found. Repeat this activity, mixing up pairs until all the children have had a chance to be paired with each other. Repeat the activity later in the year (as time permits) and compare new lists with the old ones. Determine if the categories increase as they learn more about each other with time.
To Simplify: Focus on only physical attributes, adding other elements as students mature.
To Extend: Without naming the children involved, read some lists to the class and have them guess which pairs you are reading about.
Materials: Standing mirror, paper, pencil
Procedure: Invite children two at a time to look into a mirror at themselves and each other. Help them discover characteristics they have in common and things that are different. This is an ideal opportunity to pair students who may be different in physical ability, gender, and appearance to help them discover similarities beyond the obvious. Make two lists: one for likenesses, and and another for differences. Urge the children to start with physical appearance and then move on to other attributes such as interests, ideas, preferences, skills, handedness, number of siblings, letters in their names, etc. Tell partners that as they observe things about each other throughout the day, they can add to their lists. At the end of the day, suggest that children review the list and count how many similarities and differences they found. Repeat this activity, mixing up pairs until all the children have had a chance to be paired with each other. Repeat the activity later in the year (as time permits) and compare new lists with the old ones. Determine if the categories increase as they learn more about each other with time.
To Simplify: Focus on only physical attributes, adding other elements as students mature.
To Extend: Without naming the children involved, read some lists to the class and have them guess which pairs you are reading about.
