Diversity of Families: Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 1-3
Activity time: 45 minutes
Overview:
This lesson plan is relevant because every child in the classroom has some type of family, a parent or relative, or even a friend. This lesson plan will educate students about the diversity of families in the classroom through discussion based activities.
Objectives:
1) The students will be able to make connections to different types of families in the classroom.
2) The students will be able to create a family tree based on their own family and share it with the rest of the class.
Procedure:
1) The teacher will start out the activity by giving each student a piece of construction paper and a pencil.
2) The teacher will prompt the students to start a two minute brainstorming/writing activity where then children are expected to write words or phrases that describe the word “family”.
3) After two minutes, ask the student to put down their pencils and look at the teacher.
4) Teacher then reads the poem, “A Family Is Like” (attached)
5) After the poem is read the students pick up their pencils and turn over their pieces of paper
6) The teacher then prompts the students to think about the poem read and come up with even more words and phrases to describe the word “family”.
7) Once the students complete this task, ask the students to share their work. Make sure the students don’t only say what they wrote, but also why they wrote what they did. Ask them if they feel that what they wrote applies to their family or to someone else's family, ask students what exactly defines a family and what kind of differences there are between families.
8) Prompt the students to make connections between people’s family. Place emphasis on “our school family” and that student could come from, two-parent families, single-parent families, LGBT parent families, extended families, blended families, and many other types of families.
9) Once the discussion is over, the teacher will pass out a family tree template. The student can then fill in their name in the appropriate part of the tree and any other family members that they know.
Homework:
Have the students bring their family tree home to talk to their parents. Have their parents help them fill in whatever the student cannot by himself or herself. If possible, have the student bring in pictures or drawings of their family members. Then every day one student can have their family tree up on the wall and share about their family. Have the student prepare one thing they would like to share about their family. This could be a tradition, a funny story, something interesting about their family history, etc. This is important because then each child feels important for a day and can share the differences in their family. Additionally, other students can learn about the diversity in the families of their classmates.
A Family Is Like:
A Family is like a circle
the connection never ends
and even if at times it breaks
in time it always mends
a family is like the stars
somehow there always there
families are those who help
who support and always care
A Family is like a book
the endings never clear
but through the pages of the book
their love is always near
A family is many things
with endless words that show
who they are and what they do
and how they teach you so you know
but don’t be weary if it's broken
or if through time its been so worn
families are like that-
they're split up and always torn
but even if this happens
your family will always be
they help define just who you are
and will be apart of you eternally
By: Nicole M. O'Neil
Activity time: 45 minutes
Overview:
This lesson plan is relevant because every child in the classroom has some type of family, a parent or relative, or even a friend. This lesson plan will educate students about the diversity of families in the classroom through discussion based activities.
Objectives:
1) The students will be able to make connections to different types of families in the classroom.
2) The students will be able to create a family tree based on their own family and share it with the rest of the class.
Procedure:
1) The teacher will start out the activity by giving each student a piece of construction paper and a pencil.
2) The teacher will prompt the students to start a two minute brainstorming/writing activity where then children are expected to write words or phrases that describe the word “family”.
3) After two minutes, ask the student to put down their pencils and look at the teacher.
4) Teacher then reads the poem, “A Family Is Like” (attached)
5) After the poem is read the students pick up their pencils and turn over their pieces of paper
6) The teacher then prompts the students to think about the poem read and come up with even more words and phrases to describe the word “family”.
7) Once the students complete this task, ask the students to share their work. Make sure the students don’t only say what they wrote, but also why they wrote what they did. Ask them if they feel that what they wrote applies to their family or to someone else's family, ask students what exactly defines a family and what kind of differences there are between families.
8) Prompt the students to make connections between people’s family. Place emphasis on “our school family” and that student could come from, two-parent families, single-parent families, LGBT parent families, extended families, blended families, and many other types of families.
9) Once the discussion is over, the teacher will pass out a family tree template. The student can then fill in their name in the appropriate part of the tree and any other family members that they know.
Homework:
Have the students bring their family tree home to talk to their parents. Have their parents help them fill in whatever the student cannot by himself or herself. If possible, have the student bring in pictures or drawings of their family members. Then every day one student can have their family tree up on the wall and share about their family. Have the student prepare one thing they would like to share about their family. This could be a tradition, a funny story, something interesting about their family history, etc. This is important because then each child feels important for a day and can share the differences in their family. Additionally, other students can learn about the diversity in the families of their classmates.
A Family Is Like:
A Family is like a circle
the connection never ends
and even if at times it breaks
in time it always mends
a family is like the stars
somehow there always there
families are those who help
who support and always care
A Family is like a book
the endings never clear
but through the pages of the book
their love is always near
A family is many things
with endless words that show
who they are and what they do
and how they teach you so you know
but don’t be weary if it's broken
or if through time its been so worn
families are like that-
they're split up and always torn
but even if this happens
your family will always be
they help define just who you are
and will be apart of you eternally
By: Nicole M. O'Neil