An object lesson is defined as "a practical or concrete illustration of a principle." Object lessons are perfect additions to the young-child curriculum since they help turn an abstract thought into a tangible lesson. And one of my favorites is this diversity lesson, which is perfectly aligned with what we're learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What do you see when you observe these two eggs? Our students observed that they look very different! Not only are they different colors, but they are also different sizes. We recorded these on an observation sheet.
Next came the fun part. After focusing so much on outer differences, we (I) cracked the eggs into two clear bowls. What did we see?
They're the same on the inside! Exactly the same!
We then compared this to what we already had learned about Dr. King. He wanted everyone to be treated fairly. It doesn't matter what we look like on the outside--we are all the same on the inside. Dr. King used kindness and love to help get that message across and changed the world for the better.
This is a lesson that kindergartners really understand -- fairness is a very big deal when you're 5 and 6 years old! It's always incredible to see their sweet, innocent reactions when I tell them that just over 50 years ago, people were separated according to the color of their skin. They always respond, "But then I couldn't be friends with Suzy." "Does that mean Johnny couldn't come to our school?" One astute little girl several years ago noted sadly, "My parents wouldn't have been able to get married."
Thank you, Dr. King, for working toward equality for all. These kindergartners are doing you proud. ❤
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