Share multicultural books with the children. Give the books a prominent place in the classroom library, and share them during story time. Use the books as introductions for multicultural art, music, games and circle time activities. For example, read the story, "It's Okay to Be Different," by Todd Parr. Encourage the children to talk about how they are different. Let the children draw pictures that illustrate how they are different and make a class book with the pictures. Share the story, "We All Sing With the Same Voice," by J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene. Discuss that children from all cultures like to sing. Introduce songs from other cultures.
Permit the children to select the color of paper, paint and crayons they prefer on a daily basis. When compiling art supplies for your classroom, include multi-colored paper, paint, crayons and modeling compound. Multi-colored art supplies include shades of tan, brown and peach that allow children to use colors that match their skin tones. Diversity is easily recognized when all children are portrayed realistically. Children can learn that diversity is normal.
Present cultural diversity in your activity centers and classroom decorations. Represent a variety of cultures with the posters, art, calendars and bulletin boards featured on your walls. Designate an activity center for multicultural learning activities. Include multicultural dolls with appropriate cultural attire, a listening station that provides children's songs representative of the culture, and baskets of travel brochures and clothing for dramatic play. Introduce a weekly art project, music activity and story to supplement the materials in the activity center. Rotate the items featured in the activity center to provide learning opportunities about other cultures for the children.
Teach diversity through food by planning a multicultural feast. Enlist the help of parents to provide food from another culture. Let the children decorate the room with multicultural art projects. Play music that is representative of several cultures and let the children share popular children's songs with the visitors.