Author: GHoffman

Diversity & Inclusion
Approaches to Learning
School Readiness Kits
This kit was created and assembled by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute with funding from the School Ready Libraries Grant ; adapted from the work of the Grant County Public Library.

Approaches to Learning – Diversity and Inclusion
Goals
Knows that diversity exists in the world
Shows social cooperation.
Demonstrates desire to create relationships and understanding of those relationships with others. 1
These goals were taken from Building a Strong Foundation for School Success: Kentucky’s Early Childhood Standards https://kidsnow.ky.gov/families/readiness/Documents/early-childhood-standards.pdf

January 2018
Page 1

Write
Suggested Activities
Provide multicultural crayons for the children to use as they draw themselves and their friends or family.
Become a pin pal with a child in another country. Write letters to the child about what they like to do, what they like to eat, etc.
Read a story about a child with disabilities and have the children write or draw ways that they could help that child.
School Readiness Aside to Parents and Caregivers
Children may not have the chance to meet others from different backgrounds and cultures. By reading books, they can learn that even though we are different on the outside, we are the same on the inside.
Writing a letter to a pen pal not only strengthens writing skills,, but also allows a child to work on the skills of building friendships

January 2018
Page 3

Read
Suggested Activities
Read a story and have the children act it out or parts of it out. For example, they can act out what movements animals make.
Read some of the books in the kit and act them out.
Read books that children can “draw” the illustrations with their finger. They can outline animals, numbers and letters, etc.
School Readiness Aside to Parents and Caregivers
Having children act out stories with a variety of movements helps them develop their gross motor skills.” 2
As children act out stories, they practice skills that they need in everyday life.

March 2017
Page 2

Sing
I’ve got two hands, one and two I can clap them and you can, too So let’s clap together and celebrate We’re all different and we’re the same
I’ve got two hips, one and two I can twist them and you can, too So let’s twist together and celebrate We’re all different and we’re the same
I’ve got two feet, one and two I can jump and you can, too So let’s jump together and celebrate We’re all different and we’re the same
We’re all different, with different color eyes that see We’re all the same, we all have a heart that beats We’re all different, with different hair color and smiles We’re all the same, we all love to laugh and sometimes cry Hold hands together and celebrate We’re all different and we’re the same
I’ve got two legs, one and two I can dance and you can, too So let’s dance together and celebrate We’re all different and we’re the same from Jack Hartmann
We’re all different and we’re the same

March 2017
Page 4

Talk
Suggested Activities
Talk about the differences between the children (eye color, hair color, what they like to eat, etc.) Then talk about all the similarities we have.
Have parents share the cultures they come from—where they live, what they eat, etc and then have children do the same.
Using a globe or world map, have the children point out a country and then help them find out about the customs, the food and anything else they want about that country.
If you know of a child with a disability that feels comfortable talking to your class, have that child come in and talk about all the things they can do!
School Readiness Aside to Parents and Caregivers
By talking about differences and similarities, we can help children learn that even though we may look different on the outside, we have many similarities on the inside
Parents sharing their home culture

January 2018
Page 5

Citation Page
ALIGNMENT OF STANDARDS AND BENCHMARKS. (2003, October 1). Retrieved March 07, 2017, from https://kidsnow.ky.gov/families/readiness/Documents/early-childhood-standards.pdf

January 2018
Page 7

Play
Suggested Activities
Play some music from different countries and let the kids dance.
Find some games that children play in other countries (or in other regions of this country) and help children learn to play them.
Set up a taco stand or Chinese restaurant in the dramatic play area.
Ask parents to share some costumes or instruments from their native country. The children can play dress up or use the instruments during music time.
School Readiness Aside to Parents and Caregivers
Exposure to a wide variety of music builds appreciation for the music of other cultures.
Having parents from a variety of cultures sharing something from their culture is more authentic than someone sharing a culture that they have only visited briefly.

January 2018
Page 6

January 2018
Page 8

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January 2018
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January 2018
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January 2018
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January 2018
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