English Language through Civic Education (ELCE): Diversity

Reading and Writing Strategies: Diversity and Multiculturalism

This topic will look at issues of tolerance for individuals of different backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, with emphasis on understanding other cultures. Examples and tools from U.S. classrooms will be adapted for use in Georgia.

See all the supplementary materials on: Diversity and Multiculturalism here

ENGLISH AVENUE READERS (READING AND WRITING EXERCISES, VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION)

English Avenue has 9 levels (and over 100 stories) of printable or online readers for young learners that feature exciting, real-life students and stories that focus on diversity and multiculturalism. The levels go from beginner to advanced.

Each reader has:

a story about someone (both genders, multi-ethnic and culturally diverse) students can identify and relate to in a real-world context
comprehension questions
a closure puzzle, word scramble or activity

How to use English Avenue Readers

Go to http://www.englishavenue.com/index.php
Read the story as individuals and as a class. Check vocabulary comprehension.
Have students write FULL sentences (not yes or no).
Give the choice if they want to work as individuals, pairs or groups to complete the puzzle, word scramble or closure activity.

Your class will LOVE these readers.

MULTICULTURALISM AND DIVERSITY ACTIVITY BANK

Some ideas on how to build diversity, community and multiculturalism in your class:

Introduce the concept with something that comes in multiple flavors or colors, like colored pencils, pieces of paper, jelly beans or candy. Explain in Georgian that there are many different kinds and flavors, but in the end, they are the same kind of candy or thing. Good review of the colors as well. Another idea is to take a piece of paper (or something that can't be destroyed when all together - like sticks) and have a student rip it in half. Take LOTS of sheets of paper, and have the same student try to do the same. Then explain in Georgian: We're all different, but when we work together, we are strong!
Show examples of other cultures in your classroom, or examples of other cultures in Georgian life.
Create artwork (here are some examples, but get creative!). Construct bodies with multi-ethnic images (cut out magazine images, introduce body vocabulary, and have your students reassemble the images by head, legs, arms as you (or a student) calls out vocabulary. Build images from lots of different parts. Everyone is mixed up and looks different, but everyone is still the same.
Use music from around the world in different languages when you're working.
Play games where the whole class has to work together.
Crazy Musical Chairs. It's the same as the old version, but instead of people being out, everyone has to stay in and try to figure out how to stay on the chairs that remain by working together. 20 students, 19 chairs. 20 students, 18 chairs. It gets crazy so tell the students to be careful.
Play a game of silent balloon volleyball (have a net in the middle of your classroom) where everyone has to go around on their knees. Students learn quickly that being impaired and not being able to communicate is very difficult. Make sure they know they are a team and to be careful not to hurt each other.
Have students learn right and left. Build a maze in your room and then blindfold one student. He/she can not touch anything to find his/her way. Have the other students give directions to get through the maze. Remember, it's not a competition. Go left! Go right! The others are trying to work together to safely get the blind-folded student through the maze without touching the sides. Be careful.

What can you think of?