Ages: 7-12

Lesson Objective:

A lesson for children to introduce the idea of diversity and the positive aspects of having people in their lives that may be different from what they’re used to.

Group Meeting:

Gather your group to the meeting area and have them take a seat.

1. Tell the group that the discussion today will be about diversity and overcoming bias.
2. Foster a discussion by asking the children the following questions: 
   1. “Who are your best friends? What makes them special or different from you?”
   2. “Have you ever seen someone treat a friend or loved one poorly because of their differences? How did you respond when that happened?”
   3. “Have you ever been treated poorly because of something that makes you different?   How did that make you feel?”
3. Explain to the group, “When someone treats or views someone else poorly because of who the other person is, the person treating others poorly has a bias. It reminds me of the phrase, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ If we judge someone before we even know them, we miss out on how wonderful that person may be.”
4. Introduce the topic of diversity by explaining, “Being different from each other is not a bad thing. In fact, often it’s a really great thing to have people in our lives who aren’t the same as us.”
5. Read the book It’s Okay to be Different, by Todd Parr.
6. After reading, ask the group, “Why is it sometimes a good idea to have people in our lives who are different? What might make them different or special in their own way?”
7. Transition to the activity by saying, “Everyone brings something different to the table in their own unique way. Our activity today is showing those differences in art!”

Summary of Tasks/Activity:

Puzzle Portrait

1. Put children into groups of four to six at individual tables with a boxed 24-piece puzzle on each table.
2. Take another 24-piece puzzle and put it together.
3. Carefully slide the puzzle onto a flat surface such as a clipboard, whiteboard, or the puzzle box, and flip it upside down.
4. Allow children to take individual pieces or sections of the blank side of the puzzle and decorate or color them as they please.
5. Put the newly decorated pieces together to create a unique masterpiece!

Materials/Equipment:

• It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr
• 24-piece puzzles
• Markers
• Crayons
• Clipboards (optional)

Class 10 — Understanding Diversity PDF Lesson Plan