Lesson Plans and Tool Kits

USC Rossier’s online master’s in school counseling program

Speak Up: Opening A Dialogue with Youth About Racism
This resource as to help facilitate discussions about identity, inequality, and education for children of color. In the resource, you’ll find six interactive graphs demonstrating the disparities black and brown children face in the world around them, which make it difficult for them to excel in the classroom. In addition, this resource acknowledges the uncertainty some teachers may face when trying to address race in the classroom and highlights four key things teachers should do when beginning this important conversation.
Resource (https://rossieronline.usc.edu)
USC Rossier’s online master’s in school counseling program (https://rossieronline.usc.edu)


10 Ways to Educate for Anti-Racism and to Celebrate Diversity: Ideas for Teachers

RaceBridges for Schools – 2009
This resource gives 10 strategies for teachers to implement in their schools and build stronger and more inclusive communities.
(racebridgesforschools.com)

50 Multicultural Books Every Child/Teen Should Know

Cooperative Children's Book Centre.
This online annotated bibliography lists recommended multicultural titles for use with students. Includes one list for children and another for teens.
Children's Books (ccbc.education.wisc.edu)
Teen's Books (ccbc.education.wisc.edu)

Anti-Racism Resource Kit

Committee on Race Relations and Cross Cultural Understanding – 2007
The goal of this kit is to provide teachers and students with the self-awareness, knowledge and tools that are necessary to discuss, understand and address issues of racism inherent in classrooms and communities. Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre and Calgary
(static1.squarespace.com)

Claim It! Creating a Climate of Inclusion Lesson Plan

RaceBridges for Schools – 2006
This downloadable resource provides a simple lesson plan for exploring diversity in the classroom. This activity helps reveal the many differences a classroom of students has, even when the surface appears homogeneous. Geared for Grades 9-12, though can be adpated for younger students.
(racebridgesstudio.com)

FAST (Fighting Antisemitism Together) Toolkit

FAST
The toolkit contains various resources for the prevention of anti-Semitism including the Choose Your Voice kit for students in Grades 6, 7 and 8. It is also adaptable for high school students, ESL and gifted learners and includes a DVD, Teacher’s Guide and lesson plans.
(chooseyourvoice.ca)

Glossary for Racial Equity

Evaluation Tools for Racial Equity – 2005
This glossary defines key concepts used in racial equity discourse. It is not presented as a definitive, authoritative document, but rather as a meaningful and provocative starting point for discussion.
(racialequitytools.org)

Make a Case against Racism: A Guide for Teachers of Grades 4-7

Ministry of Attorney General – British Columbia – 2008.
This guide proposes activities focused on anti-racism, as well as follow-up activities for existing lesson plans. Both the activities and the follow-up ideas have been tailored to fit with curriculum expectations outlined for students in Grades 4 to 7.
(books.google.ca)

Teacher Resources

Musuem of Tolerance
The Musuem of Tolerance is a human rights laboratory and educational center dedicated to raising awareness about the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confronting all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today. The website's Teacher Resources section includes downloadable lesson plans and online archival resouces.
(museumoftolerance.com)

Racial Disparities Jigsaw Mini-Unit

Jennifer Holladay – 2007
This mini-unit allows students in Grades 8-12 to investigate racial disparities and their underlying causes and identify steps individuals and society can take to alleviate them.
(tolerance.org)

Racism in Canada: Elementary Lesson Plans

British Columbia Teachers' Federation
Lesson plans to teach elementary students the meaning of racism and how discrimination can manifest itself, particularly in a Canadian context.
(bctf.ca)

Racism and the Box: Lesson Plan

Rachael Sanowski – 2000
With the help of this activity, students will describe the role that racism plays in self-betrayal and self-deception. They will reflect on how historic racist actions led to the disintegration of society.
(learningtogive.org)

Racism Hurts: Lesson Plans

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario – 2008
These resource materials were developed for elementary school-aged children, enabling teachers to help them learn about racism and its impact, as well as strategies for prevention.
Grade K-3 (etfo.ca)
Grade 4-6 (etfo.ca)
Grade 7-8 (etfo.ca)

Resources on Racism and Oppression

Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation – 2010
This toolkit provides secondary school teachers with ideas for creating bias free, anti-discriminatory, and equitable classrooms. Group discussion and personal reflection activities about racial oppression in Canada are coupled with a T-shirt and CD design assignment. Dramatic activities encourage students to share their opinions and views.
(OSSTF Anti-Oppression compilation)

Shadism Documentary

This 20 minute video is an introduction to the issue of shadeism, discrimination that exists between lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of the same community. Features the stories of 5 young women and would serve as a useful discussion starter on the topic.
(shadeism.com)

Teaching Tolerance: Lesson Plans on Race and Ethnicity

Teaching Tolerance
This website provides free educational materials on various social justice topics for teachers and other school staff. This particular section focuses on lesson plans and classroom acitivities about racism and ethnicity. Note that all the activities are searchable by age, subject and grade level.
(tolerance.org)

Diversity & Anti-Oppression Exercises

Training for Change – 2012
Training for Change is an organization that provides activist training for community groups. This page includes the Diversity and Anti-Oppression exercises they use, with clear instructions on how to implement them. Although aimed for an adult audience they could be easily adapted for middle school and high school students.
(trainingforchange.org)

What’s Racism Got to Do With Me? How Our History and Context Shape Us and Others

RaceBridges for Schools – 2008
This lesson plan is part of an initiative for educators called Race Bridges for Schools. It provides teachers and students with tools to build stronger and more inclusive communities. It helps students understand how history influences present attitudes and actions.
(racebridgesstudio.com)

Definitions & Terms

Youth Against Racism – 2003
This web site provides information about terminology for discussion in the area of racism. It is a useful jumping off point for facilitating discussions effectively on this topic.
(yar.ednet.ns.ca)