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This is a great discussion and awareness strategy that can be easily incorporated into your centers in you preschool classroom. You can use the mixed beans to create a visual for your sensory bins and talk to preschoolers about the differences and similarities. This is a great open-ended question starter.

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INSIDE: Diversity Beans: Anti-Racism Sensory Bin is a fun way to start the conversation of race with your toddler or preschoolers! Remember it is never too early to talk about racism, toddlers and preschoolers understand fairness and are keenly aware of differences .

The Best Sensory Bin and STEAM Books

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.

Also Check out my new book coming out in the Summer 2021: Super STEAM Activity Book! Stay tuned for more information!

The Best Toddler Homeschool Program

I am currently developing a new Toddler Homeschool Curriculum called Play2Learn Toddler Homeschool Program. Be sure to sign up for my newsletters so that you get first dibs when it is released!

How to set up the Diversity Bean Sensory Bin

To set up this sensory bin pour the bean mixture (see Supplies below) into a sensory bin. Add bowls and scoopers and other containers. Then take your diversity construction paper in different skin tones and roll them up to make skin tone tubes to pour the beans down. Secure the rolled up tubes with clear tape or glue.

What to Talk About with your Toddler or Preschooler

The most important part of this activity is the conversation that you have with your toddler or preschooler. It will be uncomfortable. I was for and is for me too. But its important and the more you have these conversations with your child the easier they will become. You will also be amazed by how receptive they are. I know I was.

The conversations you will have with your toddler or preschooler will differ depending on who you and your child are. For instance, for me and my twins we talked about our family. As they scooped out the beans I asked them if they could find a bean that is the same colour as they are; one a similar colour as me and one that was similar to daddy. My family is not the typical family; we have a diverse array of colours in our home talking about colour means talking about us.

But if that is not the case for your family, you can talk about your community while your toddler or preschooler is playing. Ask them to pick out beans that are the same colour as they are, you and the rest of your family. Ask them to think of someone in their life that is a different colour. Can they find a bean that matches their colour?

Keep it Simple

At this stage I don't use the term with my twins (2.5 years old). Instead I talked about the difference in our skin colours and that both are beautiful and good. That are all lovely and lovable. I also talked about other qualities that we have including things we all have in common. Highlighting these differences along with highlighting our similarities. The fact that these differences are what make us unique and beautiful.

Looking for more Anti-racism Activities? Check out these fun ideas:

Supplies

(This post and list contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. Please visit my disclosure policy for more information.)

WILL YOU TRY DIVERSITY BEANS: ANTI-RACISM SENSORY BIN WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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Diversity Beans Anti-Racism Sensory Bin - Happy Toddler Playtime

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INSIDE: Diversity Beans: Anti-Racism Sensory Bin is a fun way to start the conversation of race with your toddler or preschoolers! Remember it is never too early to talk about racism, toddlers and preschoolers understand fairness and are keenly aware of differences . Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins?

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22 Days of Anti-Racist Teaching Resources

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22 Days of Anti-Racist Teaching Resources

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This link provides teachers with resources and links to other resources for teaching students about racism. These links also include various teachers personal stories which I feel can be useful and inspiring to other teachers as they prepare to address these issues in their own classrooms. This resource provides activities for students in various grades (preschool -middle school).

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If you read the title of this post and it made you uncomfortable, you're not alone.

Teachers have a lot of reasons for being uncomfortable with talking about racism.

But part of understanding anti-racism is about recognizing our discomfort and working through it.

I'm still learning, myself, and I am not an expert in any way.

But I felt that this had to be shared, so I am sharing it.

This is a long post, but it's an important one, so please, stick with me.

It's been two months since August 3; since the shooting in El Paso took place about 4 minutes from my home. As the details of the shooter came out on that terrifying day, we learned that it was racially motivated.

The shooter drove from Allen, Texas (10 hours away) to kill as many Mexicans as possible in the hopes of deterring immigration from countries to the south.

That's why he chose El Paso, a border city which, at any time, is full of people from both sides of the border. That's why he chose Wal-Mart, a busy store with a parking lot full of Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua license plates.

He actually entered the store first to scope it out and make sure there were enough Latinx people inside. He stopped and ate at McDonald's with a view of the front doors, watching the diverse people of my community walk in and out.

And then he went back out and armed himself, shooting people in their cars in the parking lot before he entered the store again. He killed 22 people (hence the 22 days of this anti-racist campaign) and injured 26 more.

My city is still reeling; billboards and t-shirts with the El Paso Strong motto are everywhere as we try to come together after this tragedy and remind each other of what we know about El Paso: immigration has made our city great.
But that's not what this is about. This is about white supremacy and our educational system.
The shooter is only 21 years old. He graduated from a Texas school district a few years ago, which means he sat in our classrooms, learning about Texas and United States history; learning how to read, and think mathematically. He learned about how to communicate his ideas effectively and how conduct experiments.

But did he learn about racism? Think about your own classroom: What kinds of dialogue do you have about race with your students? This is not an attack . This is an honest opportunity to reflect.

Three reasons teachers are hesitant to talk about race:

1. They feel like acknowledging and talking about racism is "creating" racial tension. It's not. It's just pointing out what's true. Race exists. Kids see it in themselves and others and have ideas about what it means (studies show this). The way people react to race has consequences for all of us.
2. They're afraid to "say the wrong thing".
I totally get that. I'm not always sure what the right thing is, because the more I know, the more I realize how many mistakes I've made. But we have to keep growing. We tell kids they have to practice to get better at something. Well, guess what! We have to believe that's true for ourselves, too. Inform yourself and you'll feel more comfortable having these conversations.

3. They're not sure how kids will react.
The best tip I can give you for this one is to start with literature. Read and observe. When kids make comments or react to racial issues being depicted in the book, don't shut down the conversation. If you've prepared yourself, you'll be able to guide the conversations to help kids grow. That's why every day for the next 22 days, teachers will be recommending anti-racist literature to use in your classrooms.
It's a common thing to hear, "I'm not a racist." But what does that actually mean?
Does it mean we don't say racial slurs? Does it mean we don't believe people should be judged based on their race? Does it mean we wish the world worked differently, and racism wasn't a problem we face on a daily basis?

Maybe it means all of those things.

But here's the problem with being non-racist: it stops at what we believe. It fails to make change in the world.

And that's the idea I want to talk about today. So even if you're uncomfortable, stick with me, because this is important and I believe we can do it.
What does it mean to be anti-racist?
1. You acknowledge that race exists. Being "colorblind" is not real; it's actually really harmful to kids and perpetuates the idea that race doesn't impact life or society (which it does). You can read more about that here from Teaching Tolerance.

2. You do the reflecting you need to do to understand what you think about race and why.

3. You do something. This can look like acknowledging when you see racism in action, being an upstander instead of a bystander, and identifying places in your own life and work that reflect racist practices so you can change them.

2. Continue to learn. Links are provided at the bottom of this post to get you started! I chose to share resources that have helped me push my thinking and are practical. Links will also be shared for the next 22 days.

3. Commit to addressing racism in the classroom. Don't be afraid; just be ready. The next 22 days will help you be prepared to have conversations about this topic.
So, in summary: It's time to talk racism, and we're going to help you do it.

Over the next 22 days, teacher-leaders are going to share lessons and resources that will help you teach anti-racism in your classrooms.

Every day, you can check out a different blog post that introduces a lesson and a book recommendation that you can use in your own classroom. There are even links to resources that will help you learn more so you can get started with confidence.

But here's the thing: the only one who can impact the children in your classroom is you. So today's the day. Start reading. Start learning. Start teaching. Because it's time to talk racism. And you're the only one who can do it.

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What happened in El Paso: 22 Days of Anti-Racist Teaching Resources - Buzzing with Ms. B

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If you read the title of this post and it made you uncomfortable, you're not alone. Teachers have a lot of reasons for being uncomfortable with talking about racism. But part of understanding anti-racism is about recognizing our discomfort and working through it. I'm still learning, myself, and I am not an expert in any...

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Gender Bias & Stereotypes in the Primary Grades

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Gender Bias & Stereotypes in the Primary Grades

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This link provides teachers with resources and strategies for addressing and teaching preschool up to 2nd grade students about gender bias and sterotypes that may be common in all classrooms. This link provides strategies for circle times and small groups. It also provides an outline for creating a gender sensitive and nonbiased classroom book as a guide for if or when future issues arise in your classroom.

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Exploring Gender Stereotypes with Children

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An early childhood education curriculum designed to explore gender stereotypes with children.

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Teaching Young Children about Bias, Diversity , and Social Justice

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Teaching Young Children about Bias, Diversity , and Social Justice

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This is an article from edutopia about teaching on the topics of bias, diversity, and social justice. The article not only discusses the issues but also give five ways teachers can create prompts or opportunities to have discussions and provide times when students can think about their own feelings and thoughts toward others.
These suggestions could easily be modified to be implemented into any age group or grade of children/students.

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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Teaching Strategy for Understanding for Students with Disabilities

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Teaching Strategy for Understanding for Students with Disabilities

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This resource provides a guide for setting up stations in which all students will be asked to perform tasks such as: having students pick up pennies or tie their shoes with gloves on, finger spelling word puzzles, and listening to white noise while attempting to complete a task. There is also a station that shares a video that shows students a variety of things in the view of someone with autism.
I think these stations would be easily used with students in grades 2nd -5th.

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With World Down Syndrome Day and Autism Awareness Month right around the corner, this is the perfect time to think about hosting your own disability awareness day to help students throughout your school better understand different types of disabilities!

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This lesson is a great way to teach younger elementary students (1st -3rd grade) about various biases and about stereotypes.
I think this would be a wonderful way to teach the lesson as it is a relatable and familiar movie for students. It also includes vocabulary to focus on and allows teachers to dig a little deeper based on those vocabulary terms.

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If you are a fan of Disney like we are, you will know that Disney movies not only have some great lessons but some very deep lessons to teach kids. This Zootopia Lesson Plans are meant to be used as a teacher resource and not to be republished.

Disney movies are really good at opening up tough conversation with your kids that should be taught. After watching Zootopia with my family one of my initial thought was that, "everyone needs to see this movie." There is so much truth in how people see stereotypes going in all sorts of direction that these should be seen in society. Plus there is some amazing Zootopia movie quotes like when Judy Hopps says, "I thought this city would be a perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, life's a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy."

I have wanted to come up with a Zootopia Lesson Plan where teachers can use the movie, characters, and lessons as teaching tools in their classroom. When I create lesson plans they are to be used for all ages. Depending on what age group you are working with you can alter the lesson plans and deepen the conversations!

Zootopia really teaches biases and stereotypes. Including myself it is easy to get these two words confused. So here are the simplest of definitions that I can make from the two.

Zootopia Lesson Plan

Vocabulary
Bias→ Being unfair or inaccurate.
Stereotype→ Similar to a bias but is toward a group and is a negative generalization.

Levels of this lesson plan: You can keep it really generic about what they are and you can avoid teaching the difference between the two words or you can go into the different levels of subtle and blatant biases in society (High School age students). This Zootopia Lesson Plan is meant for you to adapt to what is best with your students.
Zootopia Printable Vocab for Word Wall:
Introduce Vocabulary: Prior to starting a lesson with my students, I find it important to introduce vocabulary. If you have younger students you might find other vocabulary words that you will want to stop and teach prior to watching the movie. You will want to introduce Stereotypes and Bias. If you have a younger group of kids it might be easier to smudge these two vocabulary words together and worry too much about the difference between the two.

Gender is a super hot topic right now and so are gender roles (but this topic has been around forever). There is a cute video where someone interviews little kids and asks them about who works? who cleans the house? etc. etc. They are using stereotypes/biases and picking what society thinks they should say.
Zootopia Movie & Zootopia Worksheet:
Prior to the lesson: Spend a class period or two watching the movie! I created this worksheet for kids to follow along and answer while watching the movie. This is a way to keep their brains thinking and actively learning. For older kids, it helps keep them focused and know what they are looking and listening for next.

Zootopia Worksheet for the Classroom to have students follow along during the movie:

Teacher Section: Lead the students in trying to define the meaning of the word "Stereotypes". With the teacher's guidance, once the classroom has agreed upon a definition have them all write it down on an individual sheet.

Group Section: It is going to be the easiest and most comfortable for students to discuss the stereotypes and biases that are in Zootopia. Have them create as long as a list as possible. I would suggest allowing students to use technology as they begin to think of ideas.

Partner Section: Students are to now create a new list of stereotypes and biases in society. They are to then share with their group. Each group is to be handed a set of sticky notes on stereotypes and biases in the world. Each new idea will be placed on a sticky note.

Class Work: Each group will list off their sticky notes and place them around the room (usually a chalkboard or one wall is plenty of room. As a new group comes up they are to place sticky notes that are similar to other group ideas near theirs and new ideas off to the side.

Individual Section: Now since the class is aware of the stereotypes and biases that are happening in society, each student should be given a writing portion of their work. The teacher will either give the writing prompt or let students choose from them. Each writing portion should be between 3-5 paragraphs.

Writing Prompts: The differences between bias and stereotypes? What biases and stereotypes do you feel are the most harmful to society? If you can get rid of any stereotype in the world what would it be and why?
Other Zootopia Lesson Plan Resources for different age groups:
(Coming Soon!)
Order your Zootopia Blu-ray TODAY!

Walt Disney Animation Studios' (WDAS) comedy-adventure, "Zootopia" has broken records worldwide earning more than $900 million at the global box office to date. The best reviewed movie of 2016, critics and audiences around the world have fallen in love with the wonderfully innovative animal metropolis of "Zootopia" and the comedic chemistry of rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). It's been called one of the best buddy cop comedies in years! Viewers will not only be able to enjoy the vibrant world of Zootopia and reunite with their favorite characters, but also discover more about the evolution of this extraordinary tale through in-depth bonus offerings. The runaway hit arrives home on June 7 via Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere.

Find 4 different versions of the movie from Target.com!

If you like this lesson plan be sure to check out my very popular movie lesson plans below:

Inside Out Lesson Plan on Feelings.

Big Hero 6 Lesson Plan focus on Technology.

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Zootopia Lesson Plan - Teaching Kids About Bias vs. Stereotypes

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If you are a fan of Disney like we are, you will know that Disney movies not only have some great lessons but some very deep lessons to teach kids. This Zootopia Lesson Plans are meant to be used as a teacher resource and not to be republished.

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Children's Picture Books (Anti-Bias & Inclusion)

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Children's Picture Books (Anti-Bias & Inclusion)

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This resource is a list of picture books that could be used with preschool and kindergarten students to introduce and start conversation concerning anti-bias and inclusion. A few of the books included on the list are: Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness, The Name Jar, The People Shall Continue, and many others. This list is geared toward young students, But I also feel many of these could also be sued in upper grades as conversation starters to discuss anti-bias and diversity.

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Children's books are a wonderful way to start conversations about important topics. The picture books on this list teach inclusion and promote an anti-bias attitude. They help teach children the value of embracing and respecting differences among people as well as show them there is great joy in living in a diverse community. They will also learn to recognize, rather than ignore those differences, which better equips them to work towards justice for all.

Be sure to read these picture books along with our recommendations for picture books to help kids talk about racism. And, if you are searching for books for older kids, these middle grade novels that address racial injustice are excellent choices.

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.

If you prefer to order books online, you can still support your local independent bookstore by shopping through Bookshop. For your convenience, I've curated this book list on Bookshop here.

Anti-Bias Picture Books for Children

A note on ages. I've only included an age recommendation, when I think it is particularly useful. Otherwise the books are accessible for anyone ages 3 and up, but best for ages 4 and up.

Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness

by Anastasia Higginbotham

Okay, white folks, if you are really serious about teaching your kids to be anti-racist, this book is for you. It spells it out and treats kids with the respect they deserve. Kids see things, they know things and trying to hide the way power structures operate from them is insulting. If we want to foster an anti-bias attitude, we must first recognize our own biases. Higginbotham's essential book helps kids understand the concept of privilege, how it affects them, and offers hope that they have the ability to change it. You can watch the video below of Jim Jimerson reading the book and offering up some good commentary for children. Ages 5 and up.

You Matter

by Christian Robinson

Robinson's new book encourages children to value themselves. If kids value themselves, they are better set up to value others. Robinson's delightful illustrations depict kids from all walks of life and his simple but powerful text is accessible by all. Truly a wonderful book that belongs in every home, library and classroom. Go ahead and watch Robinson read his book on YouTube here.

A Kids Book About Racism

by Jelani Memory

Find it: Kickstarter | Amazon

Memory's book features minimal presentation gets straight to the point. She effectively communicates simple truths about racism that is accessible for young children and will start important conversations. There are no illustrations, but the simple black and white text is powerful and as Memory states at the start, "This book is best read together, grownup and kid."

Each Kindness

by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

New girl, Maya, finds herself alone at school. Her obvious poverty sets her apart and the other children reject her overtures of friendship, giving into their own biases. Another girl, Chloe, narrates the action and the way the other children reject Maya, including her own admission, "She's not my friend." One day, their teacher drops a stone into a bowl of water to demonstrate how powerful the ripples from a single act of kindness can be. "Even small things count," she says. Chloe decides that the next day she will be kind to Maya, but Maya never returns to school and Chloe regrets that she never grabbed her chance to do the right thing, an important lesson. This book could so easily sink into the depressing and didactic, but Woodson's beautiful text elevates the story into a moving reminder to show kindness every chance we get. Ages 5 and up.

I Walk with Vanessa

by Kerascoët

This lovely title is a wordless book about the power of kindness and its role in creating friendships. New girl, Vanessa, is being bullied by a schoolmate. Another girl sees this happen and after some thought decides to walk with Vanessa to school. Soon they are joined by others and the bully retreats. I love how this simple book can start an important conversation about how being the first person to do the right thing can help others to find the courage to follow.

The Other Side

by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

A fence, both metaphorical and physical, defines the boundary between Annie's white family and Clover's black one. Clover's mom has told her not to cross the fence because it is unsafe. Instead, Clover sits on the fence, watching the other girl play. Annie eventually approaches Clover and the two sides begin talking, a friendship is formed and the fence, finally crossed. The final image of a line of girls sitting on the fence points to the possibilities of the future.

MORE: Picture books by Black authors

I'm New Here

by Anne Sibley O'Brien

Every child knows what it is like to walk into a room and not know anyone. Compound that with not being able to speak the language, or not being familiar with the culture and it can lead to some anxiety indeed and a real fear of not being included. Three children-from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia-tell their stories of what it is like to be the new kid from a distant land. I'm so delighted that now there is a second book, Someone New , that tells the stories from the "old" students' points of view!

The Name Jar

by Yangsook Choi

Unhei has just moved to America from Korea. She loves her name but when the other kids can't pronounce it, she worries about fitting in. She decides she should choose a new American name. Her classmates fill up a jar with potential new names but with the support of others, Unhei decides she wants to keep her Korean name. This anti-bias book is so important, especially in classrooms in which children may have names that are difficult for native-English speakers to say. Names are a big part of a person's identity and we serve children well by valuing them.

MORE: Diverse back to school picture books to make all children feel welcome

A Family is a Family is a Family

by Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng

In a classroom full of diverse students, a teacher asks the children to describe their families. They are all different. Some have a mom and dad, another lives with their grandparent, another has divorced parents, another step-siblings. There are LGBTQ families, disabled parents, foster families and more. The narrator is a child listening to all of the descriptions and realizes that all families are special because they are made up of people who love each other.

The Wall in the Middle of the Book

by Jon Agee

Are walls really all they are cracked up to be? You might think one side is safer than the other, but is it really? A small knight is convinced that danger lurks on the other side of a large wall. Even as the knight is increasingly imperiled by rising threats on his side of the wall from which his armor won't protect him, he refuses to see the truth. Fortunately for him, the inhabitants on the other side of the wall are not so blind This timely picture book speaks volumes about our perceptions about safety, isolation and trusting others.

The People Shall Continue

by Simon J. Ortiz, illustrated by Sharol Graves

Beginning with Creation and following through to the usurpation of their lands, Ortiz has crafted a powerful and accessible history of Native Americans. It is also a story of survival and the importance of community. A must read for everyone. Ages 7 and up

MORE: #OwnVoices picture books with Native American characters

A Church for All

by Gayle E. Pitman

It saddens me that so many people still use religion as a way to discriminate agains others, especially against the LGBTQ community. This book, with it's spare and simple text tosses that excuse for discrimination to the dustbin. The illustrations depict people of all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations joyfully going to church. Inside, the church is decorated with rainbow flags and banners proclaiming the message that God loves all, and all are welcome in His house.

When Aidan Became a Brother

by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

This is such a sweet story and perfect for siblings, both cisgender and non-cisgender. When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl but when he realized he was a transgender boy his accepting and loving parents changed the things that needed changing so he could live his best life. Now Aidan is about to become a brother and he wants to make sure everything is perfect for his sibling, just like everything is now perfect for him.

Pie is for Sharing

by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, illustrated by Jason Chin

I'm not super into books that uncritically fawn over any particular nation and most patriotic books aren't really my style, but I love this charming picture book. With its diverse cast and theme promoting the joys of sharing, it is the perfect read aloud for Independence Day. Welcoming and sharing with others no matter where they are from is an American tradition and can't be emphasized enough. You could say it's as American as apple pie ( wink).

Bilal Cooks Daal

by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed

I adore this picture book even more than I enjoy a delicious bowl of daal. Bilal is so excited to make daal with his dad! Food has a way of bringing people together, right? He explains to his diverse group of friends that the slow-cooked lentil dish takes lots of patience as well as lots of yummy ingredients. His friends have never tried it and they join him in the anticipation of eating the deliciousness. I love that I can share an excellent and joyful picture book featuring a South Asian family.

Let's Talk About Race

by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour

The title says it all. This book focuses on helping kids tell their own story and including their race as an integral, but only one part of their personal history. Lester begins by describing his own story and including, "Oh, and ... I'm black." His narrative then asks kids to think about how people are the same, as well as how they are different. This is a really useful anti-bias, anti-racist book for getting kids to talk directly about how feeling like they are a part of a certain community influences their personal story. Ages 5 and up.

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story

by Aya Khalil, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan

The Arabic Quilt is an essential addition to your diverse, anti-bias bookshelf. Kanzi and her family recently immigrated from Egypt and Kanji is nervous about being different from her classmates. However, a class project involving a paper collage quilt of students' names written in Arabic provides a catalyst for all the students to learn about the importance of valuing diversity and different languages. Lovely, heartwarming and uplifting.

More books to promote inclusion and an anti-bias attitude:

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17 Children's Picture Books to Teach Anti-Bias and Inclusion

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Children's books are a wonderful way to start conversations about important topics. The picture books on this list teach inclusion and promote an anti-bias attitude. They help teach children the value of embracing and respecting differences among people as well as show them there is great joy in living in a diverse community.

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11 Things to Remember to Create an Anti-Bias Classroom Environment

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11 Things to Remember to Create an Anti-Bias Classroom Environment

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This is an article from the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) about ways a teacher can crate a classroom that provides an environment in which bias is not present. This serves as a great reminder and starting place for teachers to do a self-assessment concerning the environment they are creating.

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Educational environments that reflect the rich diversity of the community, nation and world assist in opening students' minds and actively engaging them in their learning. Research has shown that prejudice is countered when educational environments foster critical thinking, empathy development and positive self-esteem in students. Review a self-assessment checklist for some criteria for creating positive, anti-bias environments where respect for diversity is taught, modeled, and experienced firsthand.

Talking with Students about Diversity and Bias

It is important for teachers to think about how they can most effectively raise the complex issues of hate, bias, scapegoating, and exclusion with their students.

Educators should keep in mind that conversations about understanding and respect should not be limited to a commemorative event, or other special programs, holidays or activities but instead, should be a part of everyday business in the classroom. Creating inclusive, respectful classrooms is an ongoing effort, and working for social justice is a life-long endeavor. (See Dos and Don'ts with Special Diversity Events.)

To prepare for successfully raising issues of diversity and bias in the classroom, teachers should attempt to make the following practices an integral part of their daily practice:

1. Self-Exploration

Examine personal cultural biases and assumptions. Explore personal perceptions and understanding of situations by developing an awareness of personal cultural "filters."

2. Comprehensive Integration

Integrate culturally diverse information/perspectives into all aspects of teaching. Consider moving beyond the constraints of a cultural history month by incorporating multiple perspectives into all aspects of the curriculum.

3. Time and Maturation

Allow time for a process to develop. Introduce less complex topics at first, and create time to establish trust. Begin discussions by developing ground rules that allow for honest discussion within a respectful context. Recognize that the long history of mistrust between people in different groups will influence classroom discussions.

4. Accepting Environment

Establish an environment that allows for mistakes. Since most people have been unconsciously acculturated into prejudicial and stereotypical thinking, individuals may not be aware that certain attitudes are hurtful to others. Acknowledge that intolerant thinking will surface from time to time in others and ourselves. Educators should model non-defensive responses when told that something they said or did was offensive to someone. Assume good will and make that assumption a common practice in the classroom.

5. Intervention

Be prepared to respond to purposely-directed acts of bias. Students will carefully observe how educators intervene when someone is the target of discriminatory or hate-based behavior. Silence in the face of injustice conveys the impression that prejudicial behavior is condoned or not worthy of attention. Make it clear to students and their families that name-calling will not be allowed in the classroom. Appropriate and timely intervention is critical in establishing a safe classroom environment where all students can succeed.

6. Life-long Learning

Keep abreast of current anti-bias education issues and discuss them with students. Clip articles from newspapers and magazines and post them in the classroom. Educators should let students know that they consider themselves learners, and that they see themselves as part of the learning process.

7. Discovery Learning

Avoid "preaching" to students about how they should behave. Research indicates that exhortation is the least effective methodology for changing prejudiced attitudes; in fact, it often produces a result opposite from the desired effect. Provide opportunities for students to resolve conflicts, solve problems, work in diverse teams and think critically about information.

8. Life Experiences

Provide opportunities for students to share life experiences; choose literature that will help students develop empathy. Make the classroom a place where students' experiences are not marginalized, trivialized or invalidated. Prejudice and discrimination have a unique impact on each individual. Students and their families develop a variety of coping strategies based upon the type and frequency of discrimination they have experienced. It is never fruitful to engage in a debate over who has suffered the most. Oppression is harmful to all people in all of its forms.

9. Resources Review

Review materials so that classroom displays and bulletin boards are inclusive of all people. Insure that supplemental books and videos do not reinforce existing societal stereotypes. When such examples in textbooks are observed, point them out to students and encourage students to think about them critically and to challenge them.

10. Home-School-Community Connection

Involve parents, other family members and other community members in the learning process. Understand that families and others in the community provide the context in which students are motivated to learn. It is important not to view the school and the home or school and the community as isolated from one another; but rather to examine how they interconnect with each other and with the world.

11. Examine the Classroom Environment

What is present and absent in the school classroom provides children with important information about who and what is important. Every effort should be made to create a setting that is rich in possibilities for exploring cultural diversity. Such an environment assists children in developing their ideas about themselves and others, creates the conditions under which children initiate conversations about differences and provides teachers with a setting for introducing activities about diversity. It also fosters children's positive self-concept and attitudes.

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Creating an Anti-Bias Learning Environment

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Educational environments that reflect the rich diversity of the community, nation and world assist in opening students' minds and actively engaging them in their learning. Research has shown that prejudice is countered when educational environments foster critical thinking, empathy development and positive self-esteem in students.

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This link is a jackpot of a wide variety of activities and suggestions for teaching students preschool through high school. The suggestions vary from books, discussion prompts, small group, large group, center activities, and gross motor/outdoor activities.

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Teaching children about racism is no easy thing. Neither is raising kids who will stand up against bigotry and white supremacy. The good news is that there are many parents and educators just like you who know that we must speak openly with kids about race and racism. In this post, I've compiled some of the best anti-racism resources I've found to help you do this important work with children.

Disclosure: For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Anti-Racism Resources for Parents of Preschoolers and Elementary Age Children

RESilience: Uplifting Youth Through Healthy Communication About Race
Get 5 conversation starters for preschool, elementary, and middle school age kids that work better than saying "we're all equal."
You'll also get my kids and justice themed resources in your inbox each Tuesday. Don't like it? No problem. You can unsubscribe in one click.

I can't count the number of things I've learned from The Conscious Kid's posts on Facebook and From understanding the racial implications of pop culture and political news to finding excellent diverse books and media (and which you should avoid), this non-profit is a great resource.

This nonprofit helps parents of all races to raise kids who are "brave, informed, and thoughtful about race." Two anti-racism resources I often use are their monthly Talking Race and Kids webinars , and their book list 26 Children's Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance .

Raising Race Conscious Children

Brownicity

Raising an Advocate

Parenting for Liberation

You'll also get my kids and justice themed resources in your inbox each Tuesday. Don't like it? No problem. You can unsubscribe in one click.
Get 5 conversation starters for preschool, elementary, and middle school age kids that work better than saying "we're all equal."
Anti-Racism Parenting Books

I wrote Raising Antiracist Kids: An age by age guide for parents of white children because I knew how much parents need practical resources to help them talk about race with their children and move from conversation into action. From toddlers to teens, my book can help you respond to kids' race-related questions with calm and truthfulness, mentor your children into speaking up against stereotypes, and take action in a way that makes sense to your children.

Is there such a thing as a healthy racial identity for white kids? What does it look like and how can parents help kids develop it? A college professor and parent of two young girls, Harvey shows parents through helpful frameworks, plus concrete conversations and examples, how to prepare white children to be anti-racist.

How can the parents of multiracial kids prepare them to live confidently in a world that so often misunderstands them or asks inappropriate questions? This helpful book covers the preschool years, elementary, and adolescence.

This classic book about how children and teens develop their racial identity received a vital update in 2016. Tatum does talk about younger children in the book. But its the biggest impact on me was explaining what racial identity changes take place in the teen years, and what support teens need from caregivers.

What are white children learning about race in our society? How do their families (often without realizing) reinforce racial injustice and educational inequality? Hagerman tackled these tough questions through two years of in depth interviews with affluent white children and their parents.

You'll also get my kids and justice themed resources in your inbox each Tuesday. Don't like it? No problem. You can unsubscribe in one click.

Anti-Racism Resources for Teachers
Get 5 conversation starters for preschool, elementary, and middle school age kids that work better than saying "we're all equal."
Teaching for Change

There are so many valuable resources for educators of all age levels at Teaching for Change. Some of my favorites are and their collection of articles on Teaching Young Children about Race, developing an anti-bias curriculum .

Rethinking Schools

From Teaching for Black Lives to a planner that helps teachers map out how they will educate children to change the world, offers a variety of valuable books and other anti-racism resources.

Related Posts:

Teaching Tolerance

Teaching While White
How Should We Talk with Children about Slavery?
Parent, teacher, and blogger Bethany Edwards of Biracial Bookworms has compiled an excellent list of books and blog posts that help educators understand race and racism.

Guides to Help You Deepen Your Own Anti-Racism Work and Thinking

The following two resources are not geared towards parents in particular. But continually doing your own work to understand and push back against racism is essential if you want to raise or teach anti-racist kids.

From family gatherings to the workplace to our children's schools, bias is everywhere. So what do we do when we encounter it? This guide from the Southern Poverty Law Center will help you speak up with growing confidence, setting an example of anti-racism for the kids in your life.

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Anti-Racism Resources for Parents and Teachers

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Teaching children about racism is no easy thing. Neither is raising kids who will stand up against bigotry and white supremacy. The good news is that there are many parents and educators just like you who know that we must speak openly with kids about race and racism.

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This is an outline of a lesson used with a focus around the book, The Colors of Us. This resource provides teachers with a list of a variety of activities that could be done with students (preschool and kindergarten). The resources includes art, book, small group, snack, and large group activities and could easily be broken up to become a week long lesson.

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This post is dedicated to Sara Esther Regalado Moriel.

Sara and her husband, Adolfo, will be deeply missed by their friends and loved ones. Sara and Adolfo were parents to three daughters. and 4 grandchildren.

"I'm not racist. I have friends of all different races."

"I don't see color."

"I wish they would focus on kindness and inclusion and less on being divisive. Why does everything have to be about race?"

It wasn't that long ago I thought these things. Several years ago, I started noticing a trend on social media. Teachers were talking very vocally about race. They were using terms like "privilege" and "white supremacy." It was uncomfortable for me. Really uncomfortable.

But I sat with that discomfort. I thought about it a lot and tried really hard to listen and learn. I learned that I don't get to decide what's racist. If a Black person says something is racist, I NEED to listen. And I'm trying everyday. So when people started saying we would see more white supremacy, I believed them. And they were right.

I don't listen to the news and I use Spotify in my car. If it hadn't been for Instagram, I wouldn't have known about the El Paso shooting for several days. Unfortunately, one of my favorite friends on Instagram posted about it. Because her daughter and husband had just been at that Wal-Mart. A hateful, racist man had driven down to shoot Mexicans and Mexican Americans. And my friend's family could have been the target. Because they are brown.

I can't separate this truth from my teaching. We have an obligation. We want our students to leave us knowing how to read and how to add. But how much more important is it that our students leave us knowing that all people are worthy of love, rights, safety and opportunity. When Chrissy asked me to participate in 22 Days of Anti-Racism, I was so honored. Not only because I value Chrissy as a friend and teacher, but because she was there. She has lived through the racism and hate and has chosen to give back in this way.

So that was a super long (but important) introduction to this post! Today I wanted to share a simple but powerful lesson you can do with your students. I hope you'll be able to include it soon, as well as other lessons from 22 Days of Anti-Racism! There are a ton of other amazing lessons from teachers just like you. We're working everyday to change the world...one classroom at a time. We want students of every color to grow up knowing their value and the value of others.

For this lesson, you'll need a few things. You may choose to split the lesson up into two days.

1. A projector

2. "Skin" colored paint (you could also use crayons or markers, but I think it's more powerful to have them mix the paint)

3. A copy of The Colors of Us (Chocolate Me is a great choice as well)

4. White card-stock

5. Optional sentence stem

If you have access to Sesame Street, episode 4503 is all about skin. My daughter and I watch it on our HBO Go account but you can still watch it on PBS as well. I couldn't find this video online, though, so I made the lesson without it. In the video, Segi is reading a book about finding the perfect toy. The main character says she can't choose the teddy bear because "its too brown." Segi is heartbroken and the grown-ups on Sesame Street come to talk to her about it. It's an awesome clip and I wish it was available to everyone. It's a great way to start the conversation.

To begin this lesson, I would ask students to share what they know about skin. Students will most likely share things like "it covers our bodies" or "it . can be different colors." Allow students to share their thoughts with their neighbors before sharing out with the class. You could absolutely collect their thoughts on a circle map if you wanted!

After a quick discussion about skin, introduce the book The Colors of Us. You might say, "I love the way you are all thinking about skin! Our skin is such an important part of our body. It keeps us safe from the sun, keeps us warm and protects our muscles and blood. We are going to read a book called The Colors of Us . In this book, Lena talks about the beautiful skin she sees on the people around her. As we're reading, pay attention to the way she describes the skin and think about your own."

I f you don't have a copy of the book, here is a Youtube link. Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs is another great choice for this lesson!

After you've read the book, allow students to share ways Lena described the skin of her friends and family. Some examples include:

cinnamon

french toast

creamy peanut butter

chocolate frosting

honey

leaves in the fall

Say something like "Lena did such a great job noticing and commenting on the skin around her. I love that she find something beautiful about each person's skin and she does such a great job describing it. Now that we've read the book we're going to listen to a song. This song is one of my favorites! It talks about skin too...just like Lena does! "

Show the video- Color of Me by Sesame Street.

After the song is over, you might say something like "Did you enjoy that song? I know I did! I love the way they describe their skin in the song!"

If you are planning to continue the lesson tomorrow, this is a great stopping point!

Introduce the art part of the activity by saying something like "Now that we have listened to others talk about their skin, we are going to do it ourselves. I am going to give each of you several colors of paint. Some of the paints are lighter and some are darker. You are going to mix your paints so that it matches your beautiful skin. After you've found your right skin color, you'll paint these faces to look like you. I can't wait to see the beautiful colors of your skin!"

Give each student a paper plate with several shades of paint and a small paint brush. Take note of student skin tones and try to match their paints accordingly.
This set of Crayola paints is wonderful and includes many different shades!
I suggest setting aside at least 30 minutes for this activity so students can truly mix the colors and find their right skin tone. As they are mixing, walk around and help students. Say things like "Wow! That looks great. Put your hand beside it...how does it match? Should we add a little more of this one (pointing to a matching shade.)"

After students have found the shade they'd like to use for their self-portrait, have them begin painting. I suggest printing these "heads" on cardstock or letting students use blank cardstock. Please don't use manilla paper. For many students, they'll see that as the "correct" or "normal" tone and they'll have to darken it. If you'd like for students to add a face, I would let them dry overnight and they can paint their faces the next day. They can also easily use sharpie.

After painting, I would encourage you to have students describe their skin. I've attached a few sentence stems you can use if you'd like to print or you can have students just write on their portraits.

I also included a picture bank they might be able to use to describe their skin. If your class comes up with other objects, I would love to add them! I tried to included a wide range, but you can also add the examples from the book and song!

This lesson is definitely not finished once you hang the art on the walls. The most important part of any lesson comes through the discussion and the way students apply it later on.
Discussion Questions

Did anyone use only white or only black paint? (No, everyone's skin is made up of different shades.)

What do you love about your skin?

How should you treat people with the same colored skin as you?

How should you treat people with different colored skin?

Should friends look the same?

Is it okay to play with people who look different than you?

Even though this lesson is fun (who doesn't love paint?!) it can be the beginning of a powerful shift in our classroom. Ignoring color is no longer enough. We must be intentional with our classroom discussions and culture. Our students see differences and they aren't afraid of them yet. Let's choose to be leaders in the fight against bigotry and racism. The future of the world is in our classrooms!

If you'd like to learn more, I highly suggest checking out Tolerance.org There are so many great ideas there. I think you'll also find a ton of great resources at Teaching Tolerance. Don't forget about the other lessons from teacher-bloggers that Chrissy helped organize.

Not sure what steps to take next? I'd love to chat with you. Drop me a comment or find me on social media and let's continue the conversation!

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This post is dedicated to Sara Esther Regalado Moriel. Sara and her husband, Adolfo, will be deeply missed by their friends and loved ones. Sara and Adolfo were parents to three daughters. and 4 grandchildren. "I'm not racist. I have friends of all different races." "I don't see color."