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“Well my Papa likes to say that families come in all shapes and sizes and that each one is special.”
- Violet
Big Idea: To learn about different types of families. To teach an anti bias lesson in order for students to recognize, understand and appreciate the uniqueness of family identity rather than the differences they might have to theirs. To exhibit pride and joy in their own family.
At the end of this lesson students will be able to:
define what makes a family and describe a variety of families.
identify common characteristics within all families.
learn that families have some similarities and some differences.
Materials: Chart Paper/Board and Sticky Notes
Drama
B2.1 express feelings and ideas about a drama experience or performance in a variety of ways, making personal connections to the characters and themes in the story
Social Studies
A1.2 compare their family’s structure and some of their traditions and celebrations with those of their peers’ families (e.g., traditions/celebrations related to rites of passage, holidays, foods).
A3.1 identify and describe different types of families (e.g., families with one parent, two parents, no children; same-sex families; blended and multigenerational families; immigrant families; families where the parents come from different religious or ethno cultural groups)
A3.2 identify some of the significant people, places, and things in their life, including their life in the community (e.g., people: parent, teacher, Elder, doctor; places: school, friends’ homes, the library, parks or playgrounds, their place of worship; things: pets, culturally specific items in their home, toys and comfort items), and describe their purpose or the role they have
Healthy and Physical Education
C3.3 describe how visible differences and invisible differences make each person unique, and identify ways of showing respect for differences in others
Language Arts
1.2 demonstrate an understanding of appropriate listening behaviour by using active listening strategies in a variety of situations
1.6 extend understanding of oral texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge and experience
On your board or chart paper write out: What do we know about families?
Have each student write their ideas about this statement on a sticky note without using their names. When they are ready, they can come up with their note and add it to the board. Once completed, read aloud each sticky note discussing their contributions. This activity is meant to inspire discussion for the following lessons.
Inner and Outer Circle
To explore differences and similarities between peers.
Students will gather in two circles. The outer circle rotates facing inwards and the inner circle stays in place facing outwards, so that each student has a partner at any given time. Have a few rotations where each pair discusses the physical similarities and differences between them. After a few rotations ask the following questions for the pairs to answer:
Describe who is in your family? Are there any similarities or differences?
Who do they live with at home? Are there any similarities or differences?
Who has a job in your home? Are there any similarities or differences?
Have students regroup as a class. Discuss if your answers and your partner’s were either the same or different? Is it okay to have different opinions and responses than your friends? What would happen if everyone in the class was the same? How does it affect our class community to be different from one another?
Write a paragraph that describes your family and a paragraph that describes your partner’s. Challenge another classmate to find the similarities and differences between the two families.