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Lesson ideas

I am, you are, we are...

Students recognise that individuals and groups have both common and different attributes and that each individual may be a member of many different groups.

The choice of inanimate objects for the analogy is endless. The only restriction is that it belongs to a recognisable group and has its own distinct physical characteristics. eg leaves, rocks, shells.

One potato each- if possible include several varieties

• Students select one potato each
• Students examine their potato and have one minute of silence to name and get "acquainted" with their new friend.
• Teacher initiates the activity by showing his/her potato to the class and introducing it by means of a narrative. The story should focus on certain physical characteristics, eg, it has a certain bump because it was dropped on the way to market.
• Students then introduce their potatoes in pairs, groups or to the whole class.
• Students put their "friend" back into the bags. (Is there any difference between the way the students handle their "friend" and how they handled it earlier?)
• Discuss: "All potatoes are the same!"
• Ask the students if they could find their friend again. Invite them to try.
• Students explain a unique feature of their potato which helped them identify it.
• Teacher draws the analogy between potatoes and people and reiterates that a statement such as "they're all the same" probably means that the person saying it, has not taken the time to get to know his/her friend.

1. Students write group or individual stories about their "friends" or write a factual report on their potato variety.
   
2. Paint a picture showing the character of their "friend" or create a botanical drawing of their potato.
   
3. Students list, or create a Venn diagram of the various groups to which they belong and map the class similarities and diversity.

Additional activities related to stereotypes: Shiman David and McLean Barbara ,1991, The Prejudice Book- Activities for the Classroom,
The Alfred Dreyfus Anti-Defamation Unit of B'nai B'rith,
PO Box 443, Kings Cross NSW 2011