May 21st is known as the World Day for Cultural Diversity. In today’s interconnected world, it’s more important than ever to celebrate and respect cultural diversity. Schools are vibrant communities of students from diverse backgrounds, and celebrating those differences enriches everyone’s learning experience. Language classrooms are the perfect place to weave multicultural perspectives into your lessons with intention and creativity.
- Culture Show-and-Tell
Invite students to bring in an item that represents their culture or heritage and give a brief explanation in the target language about the object and its importance. If possible, create a display with the items and descriptions for the entire school to enjoy.
- Global Math
Explore how different cultures from today and the past represent numbers and solve math problems, for example, Mayan numerals or abacuses in Asia. Incorporate real-world math problems based on cultural traditions from target language countries like cooking or currency conversion.
- International Music and Dance
Music and dance are international expressions of joy, love, and sorrow. As a class, explore different musical styles from all over the world and compare them to students’ home cultures. You can even invite students to play instruments or teach dance steps to others in the class. They can use the target language to during their presentations.
- Cultural Art Exhibition
Get creative with artwork inspired by global traditions. Students can use their artistic talents to create original pieces in the style of art from different cultures, such as Chinese brush painting, Mexican papel picado, or French Impressionism. Once students complete their artwork, put on an art show and invite family and friends to attend.
- Guest Speakers
Extend a special invitation to family and community members to visit the classroom and share cultural stories, food, and traditions. Encourage students to prepare questions ahead of time for a question-and-answer session with the guests.
By Kelli Drummer-Avendano
Also read:
Cultural Symbiosis: How Diversity Enriches Our Language
Celebrating Culture & Diversity: How to Incorporate Hispanic Heritage Month into Your Curriculum
