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Lesson ideas

Racist behaviour

Students discuss the meaning of racism and identify the forms and effects it may have.

Sometimes it is hard to recognise racism, especially if you're not the target.Racism may be direct or indirect, individual or institutional.

Download Handouts and Fact sheet What is racism? and photocopy to give one of each to each group. Cut along the lines of Handout 3 Examples of racist behaviour in a school context to make a set for each group.

Brainstorm the class for definitions of racism.
Give out Handout 1 Definitions of racism and compare definitions.
Give out Handout 2 Categories of racist behaviours and discuss the six categories of racism.
Refer to What is Racism in the site Library.

Divide the class into groups and distribute one set of activity cards Examples of racist behaviour in a school context to each group.
Ask students to:
Discuss in their groups whether the behaviours listed are examples of racism or not
Sort the cards under the six categories given.

After approximately ten minutes, ask groups to report back to the class on whether the behaviours listed were all examples of racism or not and whether they found any of the examples difficult to categorise.
(See Teachers notes for some pointers about issues that may arise in discussion.)

Download Handout 4 Recognising racism at school and Handout 5 Effects of racism. Make OHP transparencies or photocopy one for each student.

In groups discuss whether students have ever experienced or witnessed the examples of racism described in Recognising racism at school. Share comments with class.

Using Effects of racism discuss:
Who, in the school community, is affected by racism? What might be the result of some of these examples of racism?

Students may go to the Games Room and work through the Hypotheticals.

Playing the Game
Fact sheet What is racism?
Library Understanding Racism
Library Recognising racism in schools
Games Room Hypotheticals

Fair Go Australia