Get children to talk about their own diverse backgrounds, other cultural groups or prejudice to get a dialogue started about bias or diversity. Have them talk with others or write a poem about themselves. Ask them to present their poems to the whole class or a group so other students can learn more about each other's families and cultures. You also could have students prepare an oral report about other countries or cultures. These presentations should include information about religious and cultural practices, languages and history. For an anti-bias activity, split your students into groups to talk about their perceptions of different cultural groups and the formation of these ideas. Start conversations with specific questions about bias, such as questions about bias in the media or the children's own biases, but let children lead the discussions. Try to create an open environment in your classroom so children feel comfortable talking about issues such as prejudice.
Have students read books on different types of people and groups to expose them to a wide variety of cultures and show them the differences within cultural groups. Also have them read books about topics such as the Holocaust to teach them about the harmful consequences of prejudice. After they have read books, have them answer questions or talk in a group about the messages in the books. Tailor your questions to what the books say about the different cultures or prejudice. For an activity about prejudice or bias within the print media, have students look at advertisements, books, magazines, newspapers, Internet sites and other types of media for bias against people based on certain categories, such as religion, ethnicity, class, gender or race. Before having them look for bias, explain what constitutes bias for or against certain groups, including stereotypical language used for different groups.
Play different types of music for your students, and let them know about cultural traditions related to the music and the varieties that exist within each tradition. Give them printouts to sing along or clear a space for them to dance so that they feel more connected to the music. Sing along to show that you are a part of creating a more diverse environment within the classroom. To further expose children to different types of music, have musicians from different cultures come in to talk about their groups' music and demonstrate instruments. Try to get speakers who know how to present interactive activities so the children can dance, sing or play instruments as they are learning.
Have children create art projects that help them see the diversity in the world or within the classroom. To personalize your anti-bias activity, get students to make posters about themselves using photos, magazine images, construction paper and other materials. On the sheet, have them write information about themselves, such as their ages, interests and family history or background, so others can get to know them and see how they are different and similar to them. Have the children present the posters to classmates, talking about the meaning behind different images, and later hang the pieces in the hall or the classroom to remind students and others about the diversity in your classroom. For another activity, have students create artwork similar to what they make in other cultures. Bring in experts to teach children how to create animal carvings, dream catchers or masks. Have them create art during a special event, such as a holiday, and explain the significance of the artwork.