Looking for interesting, fun ideas for teaching multiculturalism to 15 year olds.?
357318
Start with having the students list some things they all share (same school, same town to live in, etc.). Then have them list differences (their parents all do different types of work, they live in different family setups, they worship/don't worship in different ways, they celebrate common holidays like July 4 in different ways, etc.). For their first class presentation, have them each present on something they do differently than anyone else in the class. For their second presentation, have each student present a different sub-culture living in the U.S.  For their third presentation, allow individual choice on a local, regional, national, and global scale.\n\nJust a thought.
272552
have them make an Italian flag out of colored pasta - pretty easy to do. trace the shape of the country & give them stars to stick on the capital of Rome & let them color in the map.\ngive them different pictures from different regions in Italy, Venice, Rome, etc. - each picture could represent something that region is famous for - gondolas, the Coliseum, the leaning tower of Pisa (explain why it's not the leaning tower of Pizza!!! lol)  the children could color & trace on those pictures while learning facts. Maybe put together a Play-doh pizza or build a construction paper gondola??  I can't think of anything else - hope these help!
582220
I have faced this situation recently in my own classroom.  I'm not sure what grade level you are working with but I know of a picture book that would work for any level.  It is titled I'm New Here by Bud Howlett.  It is about a hispanic girl who actually goes through the experience of being called "taco" by the boys at school and the worries of fitting in and making friends.  It would be a great way to open up a discussion.  I feel like I was meant to answer your question tonight.  If you need any other ideas please let me know!
287752
put everything into english/spanish. that way they can learn english. and a game is a good idea to teach them about history. find out what games they like and go from there also a spanish speaking person will be helpful. i hope i helped good luck and God bless.
47827
This is just off the top of my  head so all the details aren't worked out.  \n1.  Divide your class into different countries (groups of 2, 3, or 4)\n2.  They make a flag for their country \n     a)  they can do this on construction paper\n     b)  they can print a flag off the internet\n3.  Make up a worksheet for them to find answers on  about their country.  (Since they are only in 2nd grade maybe something like the following)\n     a)  continent country is located\n     b) language they speak\n     c)  interesting fact\nI don't know just some easy stuff.\n3.  They could then draw a map of their country and name the continent and the capital.\n4.  Maybe at recess or better you could get the P.E. teacher to have them compete in some relays, races, shooting baskets, jumproping, hopping, walking with a book on their head, somethings that are fun.\n5. From these competitions you could give gold, silver and bronze medals or certificates.\n6.  Have a place in the room or the hallway to display the teams, their flags, maps, and medals or certificates, etc (so the other kids, teachers, and especially the principal could see it)\n7.  They might in their groups do a KWL chart concerning the olympics or their country and have that up also.\n8.  Probably should write a short summary about their feeling concerning learning about new countries, olympics, etc.\n9.  They could graph the teams and places all of them came in during the competitions.\n\nI know this isn't a great detailed lesson but it does incorporate reading, english, social studies, math, health, and writing.\n\nYou could do this for a whole week or spread it out over a couple of weeks.  I'm sure anything you have to teach (per the almight state) you could probably work into this.\n\nI did something like this on a larger scale with 6 other teachers.  It was great fun.\n\nI suggest you get the books needed for the kids ahead of time and then you can see which countries would be the easiest to work with.\n\nAnyway, good luck.
708402
have a pyjama day, the kids pay a pound to come in dressed in their pj's, it will be fun for them and you will raise a fair bit of money!!  \n\nalso do you know anyone that can do face painting that could come in and do a few hours of that, kids love having their faces painted.\n\nfor the older classes you could get them to do a sponsored silence. this is one the teachers will love :-)\n\nyou could organise a bake sale during break time chocolate rice crispy cakes are cheap to make and kids love them.\n\nall of these can be done on the same day. it could be the start of an annual fun day so that you are guaranteed to have funds for next years party too.\n\n\n\n\n\ngood luck
251230
Make the environment hand son and experiential. Make sure each kid has alot of choice in what they can do and always offer a variety of challenges. Group building and team activities work really well with this age group and they enjoy the bonding that things like a high wall or rope challenge bring.Putting the kids directly in a challenging situation will definately make them become creative and self-sufficient. Hiking and camping skills can be taught as well. \n\nteaching kids about local plants and animals can be done as well.\n\nHere are good outdoor therapy ideas:\n\nhttp://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txextrst.htm\n\nwww.outdoor-learning.org/horizons
911753
Communicate and try to understand.  Ask questions until you do.  If it helps, try to compare parallel beliefs or experiences you may have with what the other person believes or thinks.  These may not be the same, but you may find similar things in your own cultural or ways of thinking that are the closest equivalent.\n\nFor helpful guidelines on sharing respectfully in a multicultural dialogue, see also http://www.houstonprogressive.org/CHRguide.html
440669
do something fun . not to bore the kids or anything . some kind of reviewing activity like flash cards or a " mind dump " ( what my 5th grade teacher used to do ) a mind dump is where you take all your knowledge and just write it on a piece of paper. lol . if not then just go original and ask them questions .
712824
Make themrelate to something real, and the kids will remember them. Repetition is fine, but boring and they will not really learn it for the long haul. Try songs, poems, rhymes, stories, movements. Ask them to tell a partner what they know about the word or how it relates to real life. or have them write a story using the words in correct context.
1147567
Hey give them some puzzles related to cultural diversity to solve.....that would definately help you to keep audience in discussion...\n\nhope this helps!!!
749573
Okay, this is fun.  There are so many things you can do.  Growing up what we did was play spin the bottle, truth or dare, light as a feather heavy as a board, give each other manicures, paint toenails.  If you have a fire you can each write something that you want to be free of, like an old boyfriend, on a piece of paper and throw it in the fire (parent supervision).  This is fun because it makes you feel free.  Lip sink to your favorite songs and pretend you are the singer.  You can make God boxes- these are decorated boxes that you can keep in your room and put notes in when something is bothering you.  It's like you are turning your problems over to God or your higher power.  You can make these out of tissure boxes or shoe boxes.  It's good to share secrets, make cards for each other, assign everyone a secret pal and have them make a card for that person.  You can get a big tub of ice cream, cookies, and pig out.  Some people even play with tarot cards or give each other future predictions.  When someone is asleep you can put their bra in the freezer or you can dip someones hand in warm water while they sleep, this will make them have to pee.  We would also go through the persons closet and help them match cute outfits and show them what looks good on them.  Have fun and remember to not target anyone with mean things.  That's not cool.
597850
How about some beanbag chairs and a small couch.  We also added a story time theatre with teired steps to maximize space for many students.  Plus if the children are young include some toy characters from the books and even artifacts from different countries.  Plus posters of famous faces promoting reading is a great addition.
1075756
Try these websites:\n\nhttp://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/multicultural/index.htm\nhttp://www.preschoolrainbow.org/multicultural.htm\nhttp://www.first-school.ws/theme/places.htm\n\nThis one isn't free but it has a lot of good resources if you are willing to spend some money.\nhttp://www.multiculturalkids.com/shop/customer/home.php
752570
ask some classmates to teem up and do a short play :) employ some symbolical costumes and scenes.. that would be fun\n\n\nedited.. oops! spiegy200 came up faster with the same idea! :)
575169
Magazines and newspapers.  TV news programs.  Look for human interest stories, not dull news.  Talk to acquaintances in your social circles.  Garner interesting stories.  Sunday School teachers usually have some goodies about morals and ethics.\n\nI'll turn this around.  Teach Civics using good English.
39618
Watch the television news together on occasion. Let the events on the news -- human interest stories, hurricanes, elections, and the peoples and circumstances of other countries -- become a basis for conversation. You might also watch documentaries about historical figures with your child; biography is a good basis for helping children learn about history. Such documentaries are becoming more common, especially on public television and certain cable networks. Documentary programs are also available on videocassette and can be checked out of libraries and rented from many video stores. \nChildren in intermediate grades will notice and ask about the problems that they see around them: homelessness drugs, and conflict. It is good to talk about these issues. Ask your child whether he or she is discussing such topics in school. Does your child have unanswered questions? \nLook at photographs together. Family pictures showing you and your child at different ages are a good choice. Ask, "What can you remember about these earlier times? What is different now?" You will find that your child will not tire of looking at pictures of family members. \nAsk your child about how we know the actual shape of North America, South America, and the other countries. This is a way to see what your child understands about mapmaking, and it also offers an opportunity to discuss and examine maps and satellite photos of the earth. \nUsing a map of the United States, discuss each region: its topography, its largest cities, its industries or economic activity, its population demographics, the historical events that happened there, and so on. You might start with a region where your family has lived in the past, or where a relative or friend lives, and then branch out into other regions. \nHave your child place various events into chronological order. Try the following events: the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the Mayflower Compact, the establishment of Jamestown Colony by the British, the Norse exploration of North America, and the development of Native American societies.