Promote multicultural awareness and selfesteem with this early childhood education activity by Matina.
Materials: Paper and a camera.
Description: We made passports by stapling white paper to construction paper. Then from January until May we studied a different country. We studied Russia, Africa, Ireland, Israel, China, Antarctica, Australia, Mexico, Japan, France, Hawaii, and Saudi Arabia. Then for each country the youngsters wore a hat or a prop from that country (ex: France, beret). We took pictures of each child wearing his or her hat or prop. Then I glued the pictures into each child's individual passport and gave it to them along with a world traveler certificate at the end of the year. They had lots of fun "dressing up!"
WorldPassport
Teach pre-k and kindergarten children theconcept of "Around the World" with this early childhood project by Gina.Youmay want to take more that one week to accomplish this project.
Materials: Blank booklet and a stamp for each country.
Description: Teachers decide which countries you want your class to visit. We did Russia, China, Mexico, Egypt and United Kingdom. We took a sheet of paper for each country and researched facts through books, the internet and guest speakers. We wrote down important facts and when we were done, I had made "stamps" from each country (Ex: Egypt = Pyramid) and the children glued them at the bottom of their sheet.
Once the week was up we went through ourpassport and planned a 'Round the world party where each child dressedlike the people from one of thecountries we visited and we made nativefoods and played native games.
BulletinBoard: Native American Symbols
Create a bulletinboard with this multicultural activity for preschool and kindergarten childrenby Nikki.
Materials: Large piece of brown butcher paper, paint, paint rollers, precut symbols (canoe, teepee, turtle, deer etc.).
Description: The teacher will precut a bear or deer shape from the brown butcher paper. The children place precut symbols (cut from tag board) onto the brown butcher paper. The children will roll their rollers into the paint and then they will roll over the symbol. Next, they lift the symbol and look at the designs they have created.
Multicultural:The "Talking Stone"
A preschool educationcircle time activity.
Often during circletime many preschoolers want to talk at once. One way to help children learnhow to take turns is to use a visual clue. Teachers might try usinga "talking stick" or "talking stone". This is a tradition with someNative Americans. Hold your 'stick' or 'stone' while you speakand then pass it on when it's time for another person to talk.
You can use a colorfulrock or decorate your stick in a special way. This technique helps youngchildren learn to respect the speaker and to wait and listen. Continuewith this idea and soon the children will be reminding each other.
Japanese:Hinamatursi Day!
Trina S. offersthis early childhood lesson plan saying, "Teach children that being differentis okay. We're not all of the same ethnic background, and people celebrateholidays in different ways."
Materials: Dolls, pretend tea set and newspaper print paper (end of the paper rolls).
Description: We celebrated Hinamatursi Day "The day of the Dolls" which is celebrated in Japan to commemorate ancestors.
1. Told everyonein advance to bring a doll for Hinamatsuri Day.
The day of the Dolls. We explained what Hinamatsuri Day was
to the children. Then, each child took turns telling about their doll
and why it was special to them (some brought stuffed animals).
2. Later on we madepaper kimonos out of newspaper print paper
(end of the paper rolls). A lot of newspapers give these away
for free or for a very small amount and they have lots of paper
left on them. Each child decorated their own paper kimono and then
a belt was fastened out of string.
3. After lunch we hada tea party, Japanese style, with everyone seated onthe floor. We read a short book about life in Japan so that childrencould see how Japanesepeople sit around their table on the floor.
Comments: Kids reallyenjoyed this day! Kids didn't want to take off their kimonos. Greatway to learn about another culture without it being boring.
Take a look at Preschool Picture Books Listed by Themes for a suggested list of multicultural books.
IAm Different
Kenyetta C., a teacher from WatsonAvenue Day Care, shares this multicultural fingerplay and says, " I wrotethis for multicultural month to teach diversity and acceptance of differentethnic backgrounds."
Materials:
Just fingers. I also took all of thechildren's pictures with a digital camera and decorated my bulletin boardwith the poem and the children's pictures. The parents and children lovedit!
Description:
This is a fingerplay to do with childrenduring circle time.
MulticulturalPuppetI am different from my head to mytoes
(point to self thento head and toes)I am different from my eyes to my nose
(point to self theneyes and nose)I come from a place that is far and wide
(point to self thenspread arms wide open)A place where we all smile instead of cry
(act like you aretracing your lips into a smile
and bring hands downeyes as if you were crying)I am very different as you can see
(point to self thenat a friend)But I still have a lot of love in me!
(point to self placehand over the heart
then hug yourself)
Theresa takes advantage of puppetsto help preschool children develop language skills, self expression andcultural awareness (Hawaii).
Materials: Brown lunch bags, glue, markers, paper or silk flowers.
Description:
Teachers help children cut on opening ofbag upward 4-5 inches (for the grass skirt). Have them decorate aface on the flap part of the bag. Then glue flowers under the flapfor the Lei. If available, use store bought eyes.
Variation:Paint or sponge paint the puppet, then cut the flap.
MulticulturalBook
Theresa sharesthis multicultural activity which helps children appreciate different culturesand traditions.
Materials:
Construction paperor cardboard, old magazines, glue and ribbon.
Description:
Teachers ask childrento cut out various pictures from magazines (old National Geographicones are great). Make a book by using construction paper or cardboard.Children glue pictures on to pages. Punch holes, and add ribbon to makethe book. They can also dictate their thoughts about the pictures to you.Write their responses down on that particular page.
This activity is greatfor language recognition too!
ChopStix Pick-up
During this multiculturalactivity preschool children will use eye-hand coordination and fine motorskills.
You will need:
Enough pairs of chopsticks for everyone in the small group, lots of large cotton balls, paperplates.
Description:
Explain to a smallgroup of preschoolers that not everyone eats with
forks and spoons.Introduce the chop sticks and tell children they are used for eating.Let the children help put the cotton balls (pretend food) on their paperplates and ask them how they could use the chop sticks to pick up the pretendfood. Permit the children to experiment with ways to pick upthe cotton balls. Then demonstrate how they might pick up the pretendfood. Give children children lots of time to try before reading thebook: How MyParents Learned To Eat (Japanese - American) by Ina R.Friedman
Comment: A few children might attempt to "taste" the pretend food so Susan advises telling them, in advance, NOT to put the cotton balls into their mouths.
For more multicultural books take a look at Preschool Books Listed by Themes
Pollito, Chicken
Improvise a tune for this bilingual song
(Spanish-English)
Pollito, chicken;Gallina, hen.There are more Spanish rhymes, songs and finger plays in the Rainbow Resource Room.
Lapiz, pencil, y Pluma,pen.
Ventana, window;Puerta, door.
Maestra, teacher,y Piso, floor.Use this version if the teacher is a woman, If a man, change "maestra" to "maestro".
Uno, Dos Y Tres
A bilingual counting song in Spanish and EnglishUno, dos, y tres,
Cuatro, cinco, seis.
Siete, ocho, y nueve,
Cuento hasta diez.
La la la la la; La la la la la,
La la la la la; La la la la la.
La la la la la; La la la la la.One, two, and three,
Four, five and six.
Seven, eight, and nine,
I count to ten.
La la la la la; La la la la la.
La la la la la; La la la la la.
La la la la la; La la la la la.
Music:Maracas
Preschool and kindergarten children usefine motor and sensory skills when they create these Mexican instrumentsby Sue Y.
Materials: Cut up squares of tissue paper (all colors), glue watered down,small water bottles, beans, rice or anything to make noise.
Description: Take your small water bottles and paint them with watered down glue. Put colored tissue paper all over and even on the top. After the bottle is covered do it once more. Then, paint all over the two layers with watered glue again and let it dry. It will look very glossy and with the bean or rice inside it will make beautiful music.
The teacher will either need to put thebeans in ahead of time or let the children, they love doing that.Once it is dry children can do a dance or musical dance with their newinstrument.
Comments: Some kids don't like the wet texture, but after seeing the finished project they love it!
Rain Rhythm Sticks
Leslie shares this activity saying,"Because in April my class and I made Rain Rhythm Sticks."
Materials:
Paper towel tubing, plastic lids from milkjug, tape, beans or rice or cereal, felt tip markers.
Description:
Teachers give the children a paper toweltube and let them decorate it with markers and sticker. Close oneend off with a milk cap (we taped ours with masking tape just to make surethe filling wouldn't come out).
Let the children partially fill the tubewith beans or even dried cereal. Close the other end with a cap.Then let them shake, shake shake. It sounds just like raindrops!
Gayle's Note:African, Chilean and Indian cultures make traditional use of rainsticks.
MulticulturalActivity: "Egypt Crackled Egg Art"
Nichole P. offers this multiculturalart activity saying, "Shem al neseem, means "smell the breeze".Egyptians welcome spring with red roses, fancy clothes and family picnics."
Materials:
Eggshells, washed out well, food coloring,strainer and cup, poster board, white glue, child safety scissors,and paper towels.
Description:
1. Cut out an egg shape from the posterboard. add water and a few drops of food coloring to a cup.
2. Break eggshells into small pieces; thenplace them in food coloring.
Strain shells when colored.gently dry on paper towels.
3. Cover the poster board egg with glue;then press on eggshells.
Comments:
* Egyptians celebrate spring with a picnicbreakfast. you can have a breakfast picnic, too. Fill a basket with hardcooked eggs, bread,
fruit and cheese.
* Which other springtime holidays useeggs in the celebration?
If you guessed Easter and Passover, thenyou are right.
Why do you think eggs are used in thesecelebrations?
Where else do you see eggs in spring?
* Find Egypt on a map or globe. whatcontinent is Egypt in?
Is Egypt close or far away from wherewe live on the map?
For African-Americanearly childhood education activities go to the
Preschool Black History Theme
Search the Preschool Rainbow
Do you have a multicultural activity or an idea you'd like share... ?
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