Cultural Activities to Promote
Diversity & Inclusion

Activities that are tailored to meet the diverse community needs, and include information about how, what, why, where and when the activity could take place.

Activity 1

Web of Connectedness

This activity is suitable as one of the first activities to facilitate inclusion and participation.

Activity:

When & where: I think this activity can be useful for the student councils of each grade to facilitate communication, connection, and inclusion. The activity can also be used in class discussion, clubs or any time there are students gathered in a group.

How: A ball of yarn, twine, or string is passed to each person who speaks. After a participant speaks, they hold on to part of the string and pass or toss the ball to the next speaker. By the discussion’s end, the string will form a web between the students, showing who spoke.

Why: By showing students how connected they are, students can see how what they say forms a part of something bigger, students can become aware that words connect them, and so inure actions will to and that this has an effect of everyone around them.

PDF Lesson Plan provided by College of Literature

Reference: The College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Inclusive Teaching at U-M. Retrieved Month Date, Year, from https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/

Activity 2

Embrace our Differences

Teaching kids to be proud of their differences while also being respectful towards others, this discussion-based activity will foster kindness and acceptance in the school, and the classroom.

Activity:

Where & when: this activity can be done in class, part of clubs such as video editing or art club, or when a specific issue is being address, for example one student making fun of another student.

It can also be part of a project-based activity where students can create an awareness campaign in the school, or an activity where students can learn about each other.

How: The videos can be used as the opening to a discussion where students can talk about what makes them different. The discussion can start with what they are interested in and then build to address topics that are sensitive, or when awareness about a specific topic wants to be created.

Why: By showing students that they are all fundamentally different, they can learn to respect and appreciate each others' differences.

I think that these students in the two videos can be great sources of inspiration to the students doing this activity.

Big picture

This activity can lead to something bigger where students can perform a play/make a video that celebrates being different, and including each other.

Diversity can become something that students value because they will learn that there is value in being different, and that it is totally okay to be different. They students will have a platform where they can tell their stories and empower each other.

Performing the play to the parents, or sharing the video on the school platform, or playing the video at a parents evening/open day can show the parents, future parents and students, through leading by example, that diversity and being different is what makes us human.

Reference: Unlucay, S. (March 14, 2022)10 Inclusion-Based Activities for Students Teaching Expertise.Retrieved on 2 December 2022 from: https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/inclusion-based-activities-for-students/

High school student Katelyn Cabral shares how being an atypical teenager, in her environment, resulted in social and emotional barriers that she learned to overcome and ultimately embrace her differences. A rigorous academic and athletic routine has shaped Katelyn Hope Cabral into a strong and spirited teenager.

Cabral, K. (May 23, 2019). Coming up for air: Learning to embrace my differences. Tedx Talks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDLUza8EJ9E

A simple greeting is all it takes to change lives.

"Hello" is a short film by Richard Galapate that won the Students' Category at the Nikon Cinema Z Film Festival that took place on November 2019.

MGISG. (Nov 22, 2019). Hello. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQ7yC5jQ28

Activity 3
Cultural Celebration

Why:

Through cultural celebrations, we encourage families to come together to develop sense of belonging and community, and celebrate the diversity and inclusion. We set the stage for families to embrace their cultural identities with pride, value cultural differences with respect and open-mindedness, and for making the diversity of culture visible.

Where and When:

Those community cultural events take place in school main and Annex cafeteria, Upper school gymnasium, and school courtyard. Our school PTA organises cultural events for families to get together to build an inclusive community.

We would celebrate "Global Village Day" in May when it is supposed to be dry.

How:

For the "Global Village Day", everyone would put on their national traditional attire, and the school director would address the community with a speech, and sometimes government official are invited to also give a speech. Students representatives across grade levels would parade with their national flags. There would also be students performances and cultural activities for everyone to participate and experience. We would end the celebration with a community lunch where families contribute traditional food to share with the whole school community.

Reference: Amelia M. (2022). “Embracing Togetherness”: ISA Celebrates Global Village Day

https://www.isa.nl/isa-community-global-village-day/

Activity 4
Terry Fox Run

Why:

Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable. Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself but his orbit was local – family, school, sports and friends. But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the children’s cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.

Where and When:

This year's Terry Fox run was scheduled for Friday, September 23, but schools are welcome to hold the event on any day that works for them. Whether the school is celebrating the event as a class, or assembling as a group safely outside, the Terry Fox organization has suggestions to help customize the event to achieve whatever fundraising goal the school has set for cancer research.

How:

The Terry Fox run is a way to get everyone involved, united safely and working towards a school fundraising goal for cancer research! The run is a 1km distance and students can fundraise and "Try like Terry."

Encourage students, classrooms or neighboring schools to take part; ignite a friendly competition or even a school-wide challenge! Have fun while supporting cancer research and showing off your very best “try”.

Terry Fox resources.

Reference:

Terry Fox Run. (2021). The Terry Fox Foundation. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://terryfoxschoolrun.org/

Terry Fox Run. (2021). The Terry Fox Foundation. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://terryfoxschoolrun.org/resources/