Our Diverse Lives Grade Seven Language Arts

Exploring Tolerance Through Writing By Shannon Greenamyer Education May 2003

Contents 1. Diversity Unit Revealed 2. Educational Resources and Links 3. Writing Exercises on Diversity Topics

Diversity Topics Age Age Beliefs/Religion Beliefs/Religion Class Class Exceptionalities Exceptionalities Disabilities Disabilities Gender Gender Language Language Race/Ethnicity Race/Ethnicity Sexual Orientation Sexual Orientation

Diversity Unit Revealed Grade seven language arts class will explore diversity topics through writing activities and the study of literature. Grade seven language arts class will explore diversity topics through writing activities and the study of literature. Journaling Journaling Poetry Poetry Formal Letters Formal Letters Class Magazine Class Magazine Students will submit an assignment from one of the lessons of Diversity Students will submit an assignment from one of the lessons of Diversity

Diversity Resources Writing tips, ideas, and suggestions Writing tips, ideas, and suggestions Indiana University Office of Diversity Education Office of Diversity Education html html

More Resources c/ed.html c/ed.html Pacific Resources for Education and learning Pacific Resources for Education and learning sc.asp sc.asp Diversity Council Diversity Council rg/ed_resource.shtml rg/ed_resource.shtml

Diversity of Age: Activities Minilesson: Read aloud The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Minilesson: Read aloud The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Discussion follow-up with partners Discussion follow-up with partners Guest Speaker Guest Speaker An experienced nursing home worker will come and speak about the elderly. An experienced nursing home worker will come and speak about the elderly. Small Group Discussion Small Group Discussion Thank You Letter to Speaker Thank You Letter to Speaker

Age Diversity Links Age Diversity in Learning, Employment, and Enterprise Age Diversity in Learning, Employment, and Enterprise IJ: umtgksmwmvqapw57thrgwvlv3kyr47aksdnljhh2vu7xbkirp 6vqyjj4duvngyb5gunchd6ephob/age_diversity.pdf+age+di versity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 IJ: umtgksmwmvqapw57thrgwvlv3kyr47aksdnljhh2vu7xbkirp 6vqyjj4duvngyb5gunchd6ephob/age_diversity.pdf+age+di versity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 IJ: umtgksmwmvqapw57thrgwvlv3kyr47aksdnljhh2vu7xbkirp 6vqyjj4duvngyb5gunchd6ephob/age_diversity.pdf+age+di versity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 IJ: umtgksmwmvqapw57thrgwvlv3kyr47aksdnljhh2vu7xbkirp 6vqyjj4duvngyb5gunchd6ephob/age_diversity.pdf+age+di versity&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 The Learning Resource Annex The Learning Resource Annex 1&TID=23 1&TID=23 1&TID=23 1&TID=23

More Age Diversity Links Children’s Attitudes About Older Adults Children’s Attitudes About Older Adults ml ml ml ml Ageism Ageism National Academy for Teaching and Learning About Aging National Academy for Teaching and Learning About Aging

Diversity of Beliefs/Religion Activities “Freedom of Hate Speech?” (see page 12) “Freedom of Hate Speech?” (see page 12) Group Discussion: Group Discussion: “Melting Pot” vs. “Cultural Pluralism” Reflective Journal About Discussion (2 pgs) Reflective Journal About Discussion (2 pgs) Julia Fields’ “Aardvark” / Malcolm X Julia Fields’ “Aardvark” / Malcolm X Poetry reading/discussion

Religious Diversity Links National Humanities Center National Humanities Center Teaching Religion in Public Schools Teaching Religion in Public Schools “Revival” by David Ruenzal “Revival” by David Ruenzal “Freedom of Hate Speech” “Freedom of Hate Speech” 18thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons 18thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons 18thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons 18thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons Ohio State University’s Diversity Website Ohio State University’s Diversity Website

Diversity of Class Activities Collage Collage Social Class Representation Social Class Representation Poetry Composition Poetry Composition Open form, at least 10 lines, social class subject matter Open form, at least 10 lines, social class subject matter Large Group Discussion Large Group Discussion Karl Marx Karl Marx Music Review Music Review “Another Day in Paradise” Phil Colins “Another Day in Paradise” Phil Colins Reflective Journal (2 pgs) Reflective Journal (2 pgs)

Class Diversity Links Social Class and Stratification Social Class and Stratification People Like Us People Like Us Social Class in Contemporary Society Social Class in Contemporary Society Homeless in America Homeless in America meless/frame.html meless/frame.html meless/frame.html meless/frame.html Katznelson Article Katznelson Article

Exceptionalities Activities Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Chapter Quizzes and discussion Chapter Quizzes and discussion Book Reviews Book Reviews Reflective Journal (2 pgs) over Freak Reflective Journal (2 pgs) over Freak View the Movie View the Movie

Exceptionalities Links Freak the Mighty Freak the Mighty Dual Exceptionalities Dual Exceptionalities Kidsource Online Kidsource Online Gifted Education Lessons Gifted Education Lessons

Disabilities Activities Read “Encountering Disabilities” by Richard Hartwell Read “Encountering Disabilities” by Richard Hartwell Reflective Journal (2 pgs) Reflective Journal (2 pgs) Living With Disabilities Activity Living With Disabilities Activity Students will be assigned a disability (physical impairment, blindness, a learning disability), and be expected to live the class period in such ways. Students will be assigned a disability (physical impairment, blindness, a learning disability), and be expected to live the class period in such ways. Small Group discussions Small Group discussions How did the activity impact your learning? How did the activity impact your learning? Celebrity Quiz Celebrity Quiz ml ml ml ml

Disabilities Links American Association of People With Disabilities American Association of People With Disabilities CSUN Center on Disabilities CSUN Center on Disabilities Children With Disabilities Children With Disabilities Learning Disabilities Learning Disabilities ADA Homepage ADA Homepage

Gender Diversity Activities Draw a Scientist Draw a Scientist Discussion Over Results of Drawings Discussion Over Results of Drawings Reflective Journal Entry (2 pgs) Reflective Journal Entry (2 pgs) Magazine Critique Magazine Critique Using gender specific magazines, compare/contrast content and ads Using gender specific magazines, compare/contrast content and ads Gender of Language Gender of Language Robert Baker’s “Pricks and Chicks: a Plea for Persons” Robert Baker’s “Pricks and Chicks: a Plea for Persons” older/Gender%20Language.htm older/Gender%20Language.htm older/Gender%20Language.htm older/Gender%20Language.htm

Gender Diversity Links Ethical Guidelines for Gender Discussion Ethical Guidelines for Gender Discussion International Website for Gender Education International Website for Gender Education Gender Net Gender Net Single-Gender Classrooms Single-Gender Classrooms Gender Education and Advocacy Gender Education and Advocacy

Diversity of Language Activities English Language Diffusion English Language Diffusion m/online_activities/languag e.php m/online_activities/languag e.php Large Group Discussion Large Group Discussion Dialect Quick Quiz Dialect Quick Quiz igest/0104dialects.html igest/0104dialects.html

More Language Activities Free Verse Poetry Free Verse Poetry As diverse language As diverse language Composition Composition Ebonics Ebonics Music Review (of Language) Music Review (of Language) Content must be appropriate Content must be appropriate

Language Diversity Links Newsweek Education Program Newsweek Education Program p p p p Harvard Language Diversity Project Harvard Language Diversity Project Language Diversity and Language Arts Language Diversity and Language Arts Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics

Diversity of Race Activities I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Chapter Quizzes for Content Chapter Quizzes for Content Vocabulary Lists Vocabulary Lists “Sympathy” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar “Sympathy” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar Small Group Discussion Small Group Discussion Relationship of poem and autobiography

Racial Diversity Links Schools’ Racial Shift Schools’ Racial Shift education02.html education02.html education02.html education02.html Celebrating Racial Diversity Celebrating Racial Diversity Diversity Digest Diversity Digest Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s “Sympathy” Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s “Sympathy” Richard McCulloch “Racial Diversity” Richard McCulloch “Racial Diversity”

Diversity of Sexual Orientation Activities Large Group Discussion Large Group Discussion Tolerance Tolerance Sexual Myths Sexual Myths Small Group Discussion Small Group Discussion Reflective Journal (2 pgs) Reflective Journal (2 pgs) Video Video youth.org/publications/vi deo-low.wmv youth.org/publications/vi deo-low.wmv youth.org/publications/vi deo-low.wmv youth.org/publications/vi deo-low.wmv Movie Review Movie Review

Orientation Links Hate Crimes Hate Crimes Educational Resources Educational Resources Gay Lesbian Straight Organization Gay Lesbian Straight Organization Parents, Friends of Lesbians and Gays Youth Resource

Class Magazine Compilation of seventh graders’ polished work Compilation of seventh graders’ polished work Original artwork working in synch with grade seven art classes Original artwork working in synch with grade seven art classes Each student will choose a completed assignment Each student will choose a completed assignment Movie Review Movie Review Music Review Music Review Book Reveiw Book Reveiw Reflective Journal Reflective Journal Original Poetry Original Poetry

Thank You