Butterfly Diversity PK/K Lesson

Introduction:

Did you know that there are no two butterflies that are exactly alike? Even if they look the same, there are still very small differences. To begin this lesson, we compared pictures of different butterflies, comparing how they are similar and how they are different. The question was posed: is one butterfly better or more special than the other because of the design on it's wings? How are you like these butterflies? 

Activity:

Pass out crayons and paper butterflies for students to decorate (link for butterfly template is at bottom of page). I encouraged them to be as unique are they are and add as many colors as they would like. I also showed them how to make the butterflies "fly" without leaving their hands, which the students LOVED! Make sure to allow time for students to share their artwork at the end of the lesson!

Song:

There is also a really cute poem that goes along with this lesson. This is a great way of getting the students to come back together after having a few minutes to color their butterflies. I changed it up just a bit to make it fit with a tune to a popular song- I'm a Little Teapot. (This is NOT my original poem, but I can not recall who to give credit to! 

I am very special I am neat (hug self)

From the top of my head to the bottom of my feet (hands on head, hands on feet)

We are all unique and that's okay (palms up, sweeping from left to right to "include class")

We're all like the butterflies (make butterfly out of hands, or make paper butterfly "fly")

Diversity Lesson- The Crayon Box that Talked Lesson

I taught a lesson on diversity to a class of PK/Kindergarten students.


Introduction:
Introducing the topic, I opened a box of crayons, grabbed a handful and laid them out in front of me on the floor so that everyone could see. Next, I asked students how these crayons are different. I got the expected responses: different colors, some are longer than others, some have paper and others don't, etc. I then asked the class how the crayons are the same. One kid said that all the crayons do the same thing. Another pointed out that they are all called "crayons". I added that the crayons all go back into the same box when we were through.

Story Time!

I then read the story, "The Crayon Box That Talked" by Shane DeRolf. This is a book about a box of crayons that do not get along with each other. In the story, a girl buys the box of crayons and takes them home to draw a picture using every single one of the colors in the box. By doing this, the crayons all start to realize that they each have something to give that is different from every other crayon in the box! We talked about what it meant to be "unique" and discussed how each student in this class is unique, just like this box of crayons. We talked about a few ways that we are different from one another, and about a few ways that we are the same as everyone else. 

Activity:

To really drive this message home, I told the class that we were going to make a puzzle as a class! I created a puzzle using a file folder and numbered each of the pieces to make putting it back together easier. (Plus, the kids can practice their counting skills!) I gave each student a piece of the puzzle to decorate with crayons however they would like. The teachers also helped color a piece.

Conclusion:
Once everyone was finished, I taped all of the pieces together. Each person's unique puzzle piece came together to create this beautiful class puzzle! No two puzzle pieces are alike, just like no two kids are alike. The class now has this puzzle displayed in their classroom to remind students that they are all unique! 

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