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TEACHING RESOURCES Multiculturalism In The Classroom by Jocelyn Lockhart My two lesson plans are designed to follow one another in a unit plan on multiculturalism in the classroom. These lessons are intended for a grade four Social Studies class but can easily be adapted for any level of education. Introduction: My first teaching position was working at a private school in Mexico. I taught grade three for two years at Colegio Ingles in Torreon. I now regularly communicate with the school. With the help of my Spanish colleagues, I have set up E-mail pals (pen pals) for my classroom with the Colegio in Torreon. This is an excellent resource in the Social Studies curriculum, as it is a great and practical way for my students to practice and use the computer. I believe that all approaches that Prof. Richmond indicated to us in her lecture are present in these two lesson plans. 1. Contribution approach: is present when we as a class talk about what we know about the two cultures: Canadian and Mexican. 2. Additive approach: this is when I tell my students of my experience in the country and invite their questions. 3. Transformation approach: will invite the students to express their interests in the similarities and differences in the two cultures. 4. Social Action Approach: communicating with pen pals will enable the students to share their culture and become more aware of the Mexican culture by asking questions that are relevant and have meaning to them. Lesson #1 Objective: The objective of this lesson is to encourage students to think about multiculturalism. To learn about a new culture by focusing on similarities rather than differences between cultures. This will be done by the correspondence between my students and their Mexican pen pals. Learning to use the computer is an important objective in this lesson as well. Procedure: This lesson will be spent brainstorming and discussing together our ideas on "culture" and what we would like to know about our new friends and their country. Perhaps what they like to eat, or about what sports they like, the TV shows they watch or the kinds of music they listen to. (I'm sure the findings will be that children in Mexico like a lot of the same things that Canadian children enjoy). Students will then be responsible for e-mailing their pen pal to ask them the questions they feel are relevant and important to them. (These questions will be different for each child). Lesson #2 Objective: The objective of this lesson is to learn about a new culture and to appreciate the similarities and differences between that culture and their own. The most important objective is to give students an "actual connection" to another culture, by means of an electronic pen pal. Procedure: This lesson will be spent brainstorming and discussing as a group , the facts and interesting news they received from their Mexican friends. (Again all approaches are evident in the lesson). By means of comparison, as an evaluation, students will be required to prepare a project, a presentation, a poster, a play or any other reasonable means to show what they have learned and found interesting from their pen pal about their two cultures. In conclusion I hope these lessons will encourage children to "think critically" and appreciate multiculturalism. In the past, some of my students have continued communicating with their pen pals and wonderful new friendships have been established. Other Ideas: These two lesson plans were designed to realize the similarities and differences between Canada and Mexico. According to the age level and interest, many other outcomes could be met, for example, students could:
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© 2007 Atlantic Human Rights Centre, St. Thomas University |
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