Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

20 minutes

Tune In: Celebrating diversity

15 minutes

Find Out: Creating inclusive communities

20 minutes

Take Action: Applying self-compassion

5 minutes

Reflection

Tune In: Celebrating diversity

Preparation

Download the Teacher’s Guidebook prior to the lesson. This resource contains information on the science behind the Embrace Kids Classroom Program, top tips for implementing the program, approaches that are not recommended, and where to go for further support. Definitely a must-read!

Step 1.

What would the world be like if everyone was exactly the same? We would miss out on a lot of creativity, colour and cool stuff!

Let’s watch a film clip from Embrace Kids celebrating this diversity. Show your students this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFUJBYkfbSA

Step 2

Many of the people we’ve just seen in the video clip talked about being bullied for being different. It’s very common, but it’s not OK. Let’s think: Why do you think people bully others about the way they look? Your students might suggest that the person doing the bullying:

is trying to be included by excluding others
is trying to be cool
doesn’t understand differences
is uncomfortable with differences
or wants people to agree with them on what is right

Often, it comes down to the same thing: the person doing the bullying wants to feel better about themselves.

Find Out: Creating inclusive communities

Step 1

Ask your students:

What does being excluded: Feel like? Look like? Sound like?

They might suggest:

Feel like	Look like	Sound like
Lonely	Sitting by yourself at lunch	Why is SHE here?
Confused	Being picked last for a team	There’s not enough room for you here
Sad	Doing an assignment by yourself	You know you’re annoying right?

Step 2

Now we’re going to focus on the opposite feeling. Individually or in pairs, students will use the worksheet to brainstorm:

What does feeling included feel like?

Step 3

Let’s pause here and think about a question:

What do you think might happen in the world if we can be kinder to the people around us?

Your students might suggest:

less bullying
less mental health concerns
more people feeling good about themselves
more confident people
and more people reaching their full potential.

Step 4

Let’s take a moment to think about this. As a class, listen to the recording “A Person Just Like Me.”

Take Action: Applying self-compassion

Step 1

Now we know why we want to build an inclusive community, let’s go back to our worksheet and complete the 3,2,1 activity:

What are three things the leaders in our school or community would need to do to create an inclusive community?
What are two things the students could do?
What is one thing you could say or do right now? (remind students: one of the most powerful things you can do in the moment is to include the people that are being bullied.)

Step 2

While we’re building these inclusive communities we also need to direct this compassion inwards to ourselves as well. When someone bullies or body shames us, it can be so hurtful. It is important for us to realise that it isn’t our fault, and we can use self-compassion to help us feel better. Revise the self-compassion traffic light process from the previous lesson in response to someone bullying or making a negative comment about appearance.

Reflection

In the clip, Electric Fields frontman Michael Ross says: "The things I got bullied for - being femme as a guy and being really creative - were the things later in life I’ve been able to use to write and perform amazing songs all over Australia, and I’m very proud of myself for that." Sometimes, the things that make us unique and special are the things people tease us for, but they are the things that will make us successful, and those are the special things we might be able to bring to the world.
Students can complete the “What makes me different makes me special” colouring sheet.

Embrace Kids: Celebrating Diversity

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Summary

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