Create a Native American talking stick and discuss Native American traditions and culture. A Native American talking stick is traditionally used to signify the person who is allowed to talk during special discussions, Pow-Wow gatherings and storytelling circles. The person holding the talking stick is allowed to present their sacred point of view while others listen. As the stick is passed from person to person, others need to listen carefully, as it is part of the tradition that information may not be repeated by the person holding the talking stick. According to firstpeople.us, Native American children are taught to listen with the help of a talking stick from the age of three, and learn to respect other's viewpoints.
Find several sticks outside and have each student wrap a stick with lengths of different colors of string. Help children tie the string when finished. Beads can be strung onto the talking sticks along with feathers. Allow each student to make their own talking stick to take home and share with their family. Make one talking stick, in addition to individual sticks, to use in the classroom to help students take turns when sharing and listen to others carefully, just like in Native American tradition.
Make Chinese scrolls by using watered-down black tempera paint, brushes and strips of paper. Cut 9-inch by 12-inch sheets of white paper in half lengthwise to create 4 1/2 inch by 12-inch strips. Discuss how Chinese writing is different than the writing Americans use and demonstrate how Chinese symbols are made on the front board.
Provide each student with a strip of paper, a brush and black tempera paint. Allow children to experiment making Chinese symbols on their paper scroll. When students are finished, have them tell what their symbol means and write it on the bottom of their scroll for them. Post the scrolls in the classroom for others to see.
Create a classroom paper quilt based on the books by African-American author Faith Ringgold. Read her book "Tar Beach" with students and talk with them about how Faith Ringgold’s childhood was different or similar to their own. Discuss how Faith Ringgold creates fabric quilts to use as illustrations for her books.
Provide each student with a 6-inch by 6-inch square of paper and crayons. Have them draw a picture about themselves and how they are special and different. Help students write a couple sentences about themselves on the bottom of their square. Put all the squares together on a bulletin board to create a classroom quilt.