Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

15 minutes

Tune In: What do we know about religious and cultural dress?

20 minutes

Find Out: Why do people wear what they do?

15 minutes

Take Action: Everyone is welcome!

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions

Students will:

practise empathy when learning about different forms of religious dress
explore how clothing can be part of someone’s identity and sense of belonging.

Success criteria

Students can:

can explain how clothing, including religious dress, is connected to a person’s identity and sense of belonging
can design a message, symbol or action that promotes inclusion and respect for diversity in their school community.

Tune In: What do we know about religious and cultural dress?

Step 1

Start by letting students know this lesson is all about building understanding and respect for different types of religious and cultural clothing. It’s about seeing how clothes can represent identity, culture and beliefs, and why that matters in helping people feel like they belong.

Use the What Are You Wearing? Quiz Cards to facilitate the quiz.

Choose one of these participation options most suitable for your class:

Option 1: Show of hands and fingers. A = 1 finger, B = 2 fingers, C = 3 fingers, D = 4 fingers, E = 5 fingers.
Option 2: Write answers on pieces of paper or in workbooks.
Option 3: Move to an area of the classroom that corresponds to a letter.

Go through each question, revealing the answer and the religion or culture it connects to. Encourage respectful questions and curiosity.

Answers:

1 = D / Muslim, Hijab

2 = E / Sikh, The Pagg (also called Dastaar or Turban)

3 = C / Jewish, Kippah (also called Yarmulke or Yamaka)

4 = A / Buddhist, Kasaya

5 = B / Christian, Liturgical or Clerical robes and collars

Step 2

Bring the class back together and ask the students:

Have you ever worn something that made you feel different or stand out? How did that feel?

Give students a copy of the Think, Puzzle, Explore Worksheet and have them complete this independently.

Find Out: Why do people wear what they do?

Step 1

Play the following three short videos for the class. Bring the class back together and give each student an individual copy of the Student Worksheet.

Play each of the ‘Why I dress the way I do’ videos:

Sujato (38 sec): Why do you dress the way you do?
Nelufer (38 sec): Why do you dress the way you do?
Haisam (53 sec): Why do you dress the way you do?

As students are watching, ask them to record key ideas about the person’s experiences in their Student Worksheet.

Literacy extension: Ask students to write a short paragraph about one person from the clips, using sentence starters provided at the bottom of the worksheet.

Step 2

Next, hand out a copy of the Empathy Map to each student. Explain that they will focus on one person from the three clips to complete the map.

Draw a Venn Diagram on the board. Draw three circles, one for each person.

As students share their responses from the student worksheet and the empathy map, fill out the Venn Diagram as a class to discover similarities and differences between the three.

Literacy extension: Ask students to write a paragraph summarising the similarities and differences between two or all three people, using the suggested vocabulary:

similarities: both, also, likewise, similarly, in addition, as well as, similar to, just like
differences: in comparison, on the other hand, in contrast, whereas.

Take Action: Everyone is welcome!

Step 1

Revisit the learning intention with your students: to develop a greater understanding of other religions and/or cultures, to promote inclusivity and belonging.

Use these prompts with your students:

How does what people wear reflect their identity?
How does it feel when people judge what they wear?
What messages can we create to help everyone feel safe, included and respected?

Step 2

Working in pairs or groups of three, students create posters with welcoming quotes or slogans to be hung around the classroom or around the school. Encourage each pair/group to aim for 3 - 5 quotes or slogans.

Encourage students to be creative and build on these examples.

Everyone belongs here.
Kindness makes us stronger.
Our differences make us awesome.
Be a friend to everyone.
Belonging begins with kindness.
Diversity is our strength.
All voices welcome.

Reflection

On a piece of paper or a post-it note, ask students to write their response to the question:

How can understanding others help us to be more inclusive?

These responses are great to collect for a class display or return them at a later date to remind students of their thinking.

What Are You Wearing?

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Summary

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