1. Lesson 3: Recognizing Stereotypes and Emb-racing Differences
Know Your Classmates

2. Objectives
Students will examine individual bias, stereotypes, misconceptions, and discrimination.
Students will learn how intolerance and discrimination are connected to bias and stereotyping.
Students will articulate how they will overcome individual bias, stereotyping, and exclusion.

3. Watch, Journal and Discuss
What Would You Do? Bike Theft”
Purpose of Watching:
What did you notice in the video? Use evidence to support any claims you make.
How did you feel watching the video, and why do you think you felt that way?

4. Bias and Discrimination
Bias: An outlook or opinion in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way to be considered unfair.
Discrimination: behavior that treats people unequally because of the group they belong to. Discrimination often begins with stereotypes and prejudices, and can lead to behaviors such as: socially isolating someone, profiling or insulting, or even committing hate crimes or other violent acts.

5. Tolerance and Intolerance
Tolerance: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not truly agree with.
Intolerance: Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviors that differs from one’s own.

6. The DNA Journey- Watch and Discuss
How does personal bias affect the individuals in the video? Use evidence to support your claim.
How does an individual’s bias directly affect others?
How do you think the bias we have affects the world? Provide evidence to support your reasoning, whether cited from videos or from your own personal experience.

7. Stereotype
Stereotype: A widely held but fixed and over simplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Gender Stereotype Example: Men work at the office and women should take care of the home.

8. Ways We Categorize and/or Judge
Race
How else?

9. Reflect and Journal
How have you been categorized in the past that felt hurtful? If you don’t feel like you have been categorized in the past, then journal about a categorization that you think might hurt you most.
Which ways have you been categorized that you think are positive. Why do you think you felt positively about being categorized that way?
What are stereotypes that you’ve heard or experienced? Why might they have felt harmful, hurtful, and/or threatening?
Where do you think this stereotype came from?
Is it fair to stereotype groups of people? Why or why not? Provide evidence to support your reasoning, whether cited from videos or from your own personal experience.

10. Discuss in Groups of 2-4: 2 mins per question
How have you been categorized in the past that felt hurtful? If you don’t feel like you have been categorized in the past, then journal about a categorization that you think might hurt you most.
Which ways have you been categorized that you think are positive. Why do you think you felt positively about being categorized that way?
What are stereotypes that you’ve heard or experienced? Why might they have felt harmful, hurtful, and/or threatening?
Where do you think this stereotype came from?
Is it fair to stereotype groups of people? Why or why not? Provide evidence to support your reasoning, whether cited from videos or from your own personal experience.

11. Discrimination: Define and Discuss
Discrimination: behavior that treats people unequally because of the group they belong to. Discrimination often begins with stereotypes and prejudices, and can lead to behaviors such as: socially isolating someone, profiling or insulting, or even committing hate crimes or other violent acts.
What are examples of discrimination, from small to large impacts?
How are intolerance and discrimination connected?

12. Recognizing Stereotypes and Emb-racing Differences
I get nervous when I see someone wearing a hijab.
I can be aware of my bias, remind myself that I should not judge, and make an effort to get to know them.
*Remember: We all have biases. Recognizing bias is the only way to prevent it from turning into prejudice and discrimination.

13. Discuss with a Partner How does this bias influence you?
What were you most surprised by in identifying this bias?