Build respect and cultivate a classroom of inclusion with this two-three week diversity unit!
This project is meant to honor the cultural diversity present in your own classroom by having students research heroes related to cultures around the world. The set up of the lesson teaches diversity and inclusion in a way that will make your students' presentations meaningful and powerful!
This project was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s nonfiction title Blink. In this text, Gladwell discusses how unconscious racism endures in our society. The difficulty, he says, is that because this type of racism is unconscious, we do not know when it manifests. To combat this phenomenon, Gladwell attests that we must “expose ourselves to minorities on a regular basis and become familiar with the best of their culture.”
Throughout the year, different months are set aside to honor the accomplishments of individuals from various cultures. February celebrates Black History Month, March brings National Women’s History Month, September celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, and the cultural list goes on! The purpose of this mini research unit is to allow students to create a project which celebrates some of the best individuals from diverse backgrounds--throughout the whole year.
Students will research an individual of their choice and compose a speech in which they argue why this individual should be remembered. Students will also create a visual poster of their individual. After presentations, adorn your classroom with students' posters to put into action a fight against unconscious racism, as detailed by Gladwell.
The unit plan outlines a two-week mini unit, but this can be adapted for two or three weeks, depending on the pace needed for your own students.
Materials:
-Two-Week Unit Plan: Includes daily objectives and daily activities with necessary materials
-Introduction Presentation: Google Slides presentation to introduce students to the new unit
-Letter to Parents: Notifies parents of the upcoming unit (and race discussion); includes project timeline overview
-Fully detailed project description/requirements
-List of Individuals: lists various cultural individuals for students to choose from; African American, Native American, Latina/o, Middle Eastern, Caucasian Females
-Project Evaluation Criteria: Evaluates students' visual aid poster, oral speech, written copy, works cited page.
-Graphic Organizers:
(1) Research graphic organizer
(2) Source Collector Handout
(3) Speech Outline
-Rhetorical Scenarios
-Presentation Day Notes Sheet: Note catcher space for audience members to take notes during presentations