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I was looking for ideas for a diversity day and, as always, I got some creative ideas and great titles from this group. Thanks so much--here's the hit... We have a diversity day each term. Classes present songs, poems etc. from<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> other cultures. Students and teachers are encourage to wear clothing from their own culture, or any culture they wish. Teachers plan art activities that reflect different cultures and these masterpieces are displayed in the gym. So far I haven't come up with a plan to involve the library, but would love to hear some ideas. Don't know if you're interested in a Black author but we've had success with both Valerie Flournoy (Patchwork Quilt) and Brian Pinkney. Valerie lives in Southern NJ and Brian is in Bklyn. and both will travel to Monmouth Co. ###########################################################3 Hi-- I use this little lesson every year with my K&1 classes. They love it! http://www.learnnc.com/LearnNC/lessonp.nsf/docUNID/5A603AFBC0A351BF85256B4500629106?OpenDocument A couple of things off the top of my head that we have done in the past. -- I know you said "day" but how about prior to the month -- ask the 5th grade teachers to work with their students (of course with your research teaching) to research historical people of diversity. Their assignment would be to write 2-5 sentences about that person that would "tell" who they were. Each student would then rehearse reading their paragraph and read it over the innercom during morning announcements or midday - -whenever was appropriate. That was one of the most powerful diversity activities we did. All the older students listened to their buddies intently. Younger children listened for older brothers and sisters. Each day teachers of EVERY classroom got a one sheet crib sheet about the person to be featured that particular day. That gave her some additional information to share as appropriate and suggested some further readings if appropriate. We had a collection of books on display in the LMC -- checkout during this time frame ONLY to teachers for a hour which they could reserve ahead of time and we would deliver and pick-up as that allowed the maximum number of classrooms to use on the day. When the books were in the LMC they could be read by students who came in to the reading corner. The other thing we did was have parents/grandparents who were natives of or who had lived in different countries come in as guest speakers that day and just answer questions. A classroom setting. We put a huge map in the LMC and marked the location of all guests. Teachers were given resource material about the geographical location so they could work with their students to have great Q. It was mostly a Q& A session but many guests brought pictures and great stories. I use the book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson. I take about 25 wooden popsicle sticks and tape them together with mailing tape so that they make a flexible wooden fence. I then read the book aloud, stopping to fill in the necessary background information since the book is about a time in history that kids today don't really understand. Then, we talk about that metaphor of the fence from the book, and I use my fence to illustrate how fences are designed to keep us separate. But, if I turn my little fence and knock it down, then it can become a bridge to help me reach out to someone else across whatever divide might separate us. I then give all the kids a plain popsicle stick and ask them if they will choose to build fences or bridges. For older kids, they draw a picture and write about something they do to build a bridge. For example, they might say something like, "I build a bridge when I include everyone in my game at recess." or "I build a bridge when I stick up for someone who is being teased." For little kids, they can just draw the picture and talk about their ideas to bring people together. I hope this makes sense. The other book you might do (but this takes a little practice to get it down) is What a Wonderful World <illustrated by Ashley Bryan>. This picture book is absolutely beautiful! I bought a CD of Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" and I play the CD and turn the pages in time with the music. It's a very powerful closing experience. Another book I highly recommend is Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Also, the Scholastic Kids are Authors Book called "We Dream of a World" lends itself so easily to something like you're wanting. There's another book that has great math connections called If the World Were a Village. This is really something for your fifth graders, though because it has a lot of percentages and facts to ponder. It's really a book about developing global citizenship, but it's applicable for your purposes here, I think. Amanda Power Library Media Specialist Lincroft & River Plaza Elementary Schools Middletown, NJ powera@middletownk12.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------