Discussing Race
Lesson 1: Similarities and Differences

Lesson Goals

  1. Notice different skin tones
  2. Establish vocabulary for discussing skin tones
  3. Learn why skin is different

Lesson Description

Use the illustration “At the Playground” to spark conversations about skin tone, the many ways people are both the same as and different from one another, and “get to know” children who are different from us.

Lesson Plan: Similarities & Differences

Play "Us Time" Song

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Open Us Time with the “Us Time” song. Sing it together or play the video. 

Review Agreements

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Agreements are rules that people decide, together, to follow such as:

  • Paying attention to each other;
  • Keeping our hands to ourselves; and
  • Giving everyone a turn to speak.

In each session, discuss agreements, add to them, modify them, and recommit. Students can raise their hands or say “I agree” to show that they agree.

Discussion: On The Playground

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  • Share the illustration “On the Playground” and ask students to share what they notice in the picture.
  • Select two children or a group of children in the illustration and point out their similarities and differences For example, “Can you find two children playing with a football? What color is that child’s skin? What about the other child? That’s different! It looks like they both like playing catch, though. That’s the same!
  • Repeat with a few different pairs or groups of children in the illustration.

Activity: Skin Color Matching

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Use skin tone markers, crayons, or paper to illustrate one particular skin tone. Ask students to identify a person in the “On the Playground” illustration with a similar skin tone. 

Introduce the word melanin to explain skin tone.

  • There’s something called melanin that everyone has in their body. Melanin gives color to our hair, skin, and eyes. The more melanin someone has in their body, the darker their hair, skin, and eyes will be. Each of us has our own color.
  • For example: “This person has a lot of melanin that makes their skin darker. This person has a little bit of melanin — their skin is lighter!”

Repeat the color comparison with different skin shades, using the On The Playground illustration or other pictures from books or life.

Activity: Tell a Story

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  • Tell the class that you will all work together to make up a story about a pair or group of people in the illustration. You might select a vignette based on students’ interest.
  • As the teacher, tell the first line of the story, writing on the board or large paper.
  • Move around the circle of students, with each student adding an idea or sentence. Pause every few students to read the story aloud and keep everyone on track. 
  • When 2 or 3 students are left to share, prompt the class to work toward an ending for the story. 
  • Optional extension: If this collaborative story-telling exercise goes well, try turning your class story into a book. Put each child’s contribution on a separate page and invite them to illustrate. Keep your book on the classroom bookshelf.

Closing Discussion: Similarities & Differences

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There are many ways people are different, and those differences make each of us special and unique! There are also many ways that we are the same, both in how we look and what we like to do. There are some things that we can tell about a person by looking at them, like the color of their skin or what they are doing. There are also lots of things that we CAN NOT tell about someone by looking at them, like where they are from, what they are good at, or what they think, feel, or believe.

Let’s discuss:

  1. What are some similarities and differences we noticed in the illustration? 
  2. What are some ways we are similar and different from each other?
Consider sharing the Celebrate Our Difference song from the Big Heart Beats Album if there is interest/time.

Thank You: Share the Us Time Closing Song

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Conclude with “Thank You,” the Us Time “goodbye” song. This song marks the end of Us Time. Invite children to share what they want to say “thank you” for! Find the song online at playsparkler.org/UsTimeSongs.

What You'll Need
Lesson Quick Links

Family Engagement Materials

From this lesson, you can share:
Reading List
Vocabulary
Suggested Letter to Send Home
Activities to Play At Home

Explore Other Us Time: Race & Racism Resources

Visit the Race Guide Website for Families