Using a diversity poster
Discussion:
1. Ask a series of questions that will help pupils look at the faces in the poster. Some may
wish to blank out the name 'Aberdeen' from the poster (it occurs three times!), read out
the names (but not the areas!) and see if children can guess the city.
2. Read the text on the poster and teach children the meaning of any unfamiliar words or
ideas.
3. Ask: Why do you think these faces were chosen to go with these words? Can all the
differences be seen? For example, can you tell if a person is religious or what religion
they belong to?
4. Suggest: Together, the faces and the text describe a hope for Aberdeen and the world.
What is that hope? Talk about the Golden Rule shared by all religions and by atheists
('treat other people in the same way that you'd like to be treated). If you were to draw it,
what would it look like? How can we express this hope in our own classroom, our own
school and our own families?
5. How do you feel when you are around someone very different from you (for example,
because of the way they dress for their religion)? What are some good things about
differences?
Activities:
1. Ask children to write a story about the making of the poster and tell it to the class.
2. Help them to draw a picture to go with the slogan. Invisible differences can be shown with
speech or thought bubbles.
3. Create a 'people sculpture' by having groups of four or five position themselves together
in a tableau that illustrates the slogan.
4. Ask children to suggest songs that express the theme of the slogan and sing them as a
class, or help them to write an original song.
5. Ask children to complete the sentence: 'To be tolerant means ...' Suggest a few
responses such as: '... we respect each other.' or '... sharing our toys.' or '... praying
together.' Write the responses on a large piece of paper or card and have the class
decorate it. Display!
6. Help children to make their own diversity poster for their class, year group or for the
whole school. Display!
Extension activity:
1. Move on to look more closely then at issues that cause sectarianism, racism or other
forms of divide.
2. What causes divisions?
3. What can be done about these divisions?
4. Children could draw their suggestions using posters or write a poem or story to illustrate.