FriendsFriends(Diversity)(Diversity)Resource Unit Resource Unit

By Barb HolmgrenBy Barb Holmgren

PreschoolPreschool

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

IntroductionIntroduction State Content Standards State Content Standards

ObjectivesObjectives Content Content Lesson Objectives & ActivitiesLesson Objectives & Activities VocabularyVocabulary EvaluationEvaluation Instructional ResourcesInstructional Resources

IntroductionIntroduction

This resource unit is designed to This resource unit is designed to help young children explore help young children explore the similarities and differences the similarities and differences between people. It will between people. It will provide experiences for the provide experiences for the children to learn about specific children to learn about specific disabilities such as autism. disabilities such as autism. Hopefully it will foster positive Hopefully it will foster positive interactions between interactions between differently abled peers. differently abled peers.

ObjectivesObjectivesState Content StandardsState Content Standards

Develop a sense of belonging to different Develop a sense of belonging to different groups (e.g., family, groups of friends, groups (e.g., family, groups of friends, preschool class, boys or girls).preschool class, boys or girls).

Gain information through participation in Gain information through participation in experiences with objects, media, books experiences with objects, media, books and engaging in conversations with peers.and engaging in conversations with peers.

Represent ideas through multiple forms of Represent ideas through multiple forms of language and expression (e.g., drawing, language and expression (e.g., drawing, dramatic play, conversation, art media, dramatic play, conversation, art media, music, movement, emergent writing).music, movement, emergent writing).

ContentContent

Objective: To become aware of differences and Objective: To become aware of differences and similarities between people and begin to similarities between people and begin to develop positive attitudes about people with develop positive attitudes about people with differing abilities.differing abilities.

During circle times the children will have various During circle times the children will have various opportunities to learn about themselves and opportunities to learn about themselves and others. They will participate in music, art, and others. They will participate in music, art, and drama activities to support their learning. drama activities to support their learning. Through supported play interactions, the children Through supported play interactions, the children will have opportunities to interact with children will have opportunities to interact with children

of of varying abilities. Accurate and developmentally varying abilities. Accurate and developmentally appropriate information about disabilities will be appropriate information about disabilities will be presented.presented.

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Objective: To learn about similarities and Objective: To learn about similarities and differences of eye color.differences of eye color.

Sing: Do You Know This Friend of Mine?Sing: Do You Know This Friend of Mine? (Tune: Muffin Man)(Tune: Muffin Man) Have the children look at their eye color in a Have the children look at their eye color in a

mirror. Make a simple graph showing the eye mirror. Make a simple graph showing the eye color of everyone in the classroom. Talk about color of everyone in the classroom. Talk about whose eyes are the same color and whose eyes whose eyes are the same color and whose eyes are different.are different.

Read a simple friend book such as Read a simple friend book such as Titch and Titch and Daisy Daisy by Pat Hutchinsby Pat Hutchins..

During playtime, carefully structure play groups During playtime, carefully structure play groups with differently abled peers and provide support with differently abled peers and provide support for successful interactions. for successful interactions. Make it Fun!Make it Fun!

(Continue this strategy everyday)(Continue this strategy everyday)

Lesson 2Lesson 2Objective: To learn about similarities and Objective: To learn about similarities and

differences of hair, including color, length and differences of hair, including color, length and texture.texture.

Sing: Sing: Be My FriendBe My Friend Have the children look at their hair in a mirror. Have the children look at their hair in a mirror.

Make a simple graph showing the hair color, Make a simple graph showing the hair color, length, and texture of everyone in the classroom. length, and texture of everyone in the classroom. Talk about the things children have in common.Talk about the things children have in common.

Read a simple friend book such as Read a simple friend book such as My Friend Bear My Friend Bear by Jez Alboroughby Jez Alborough

Prepare a PowerPoint game where the children Prepare a PowerPoint game where the children count pictures of their peers. The children will count pictures of their peers. The children will move the mouse over a number and the move the mouse over a number and the corresponding number of children’s pictures corresponding number of children’s pictures appear for them to count.appear for them to count.

Lesson 3Lesson 3Objective: To learn about similarities and differencesObjective: To learn about similarities and differences of skin color.of skin color. Sing: Sing: Glad to Have a Friend Like YouGlad to Have a Friend Like You Get paint chips from a local store. Help the childrenGet paint chips from a local store. Help the children identify which one is closest to their skin color.identify which one is closest to their skin color. In the art area, work with each child and help them mix their In the art area, work with each child and help them mix their

own unique color.own unique color. Make paper plate puppets. Have each child paint a paper Make paper plate puppets. Have each child paint a paper

plate with their own special color. Using various art materials plate with their own special color. Using various art materials such as yarn, raffia, ribbon, fuzzy pipe cleaners, beads, etc., such as yarn, raffia, ribbon, fuzzy pipe cleaners, beads, etc., help each child create a puppet that “looks just like them”. help each child create a puppet that “looks just like them”. During this process use the graphs and mirror again. Extend During this process use the graphs and mirror again. Extend the lesson, matching lip color. Some of the children may want the lesson, matching lip color. Some of the children may want to paint teeth; white-out works good for this. For nappy hair, it to paint teeth; white-out works good for this. For nappy hair, it works well to wrap fuzzy pipe cleaners around a pencil. Beads works well to wrap fuzzy pipe cleaners around a pencil. Beads and bows may be added according to what the children see in and bows may be added according to what the children see in the mirror. (This project may take several weeks.)the mirror. (This project may take several weeks.)

Lesson 3Lesson 3

Objective: To celebrate our Objective: To celebrate our similarities and differences through similarities and differences through music and drama.music and drama.

Sing:Sing: Be My FriendBe My Friend and and Glad to Glad to have a Friend Like You. have a Friend Like You. Add Add motions with the puppets the motions with the puppets the children have made. Practice and children have made. Practice and share with others.share with others.

Lesson 4Lesson 4 Sing: Sing: We Have a Friend We Have a Friend using each child’s using each child’s

name.name. At circle time, talk about what each child is At circle time, talk about what each child is

good at. Make a class list.good at. Make a class list. Read: Read: Will You Be My Friend?Will You Be My Friend? Make a “Friends” book. Take each child's Make a “Friends” book. Take each child's

picture with a digital camera. Using the picture with a digital camera. Using the computer put one child’s picture on each page computer put one child’s picture on each page with a simple description of what they look like with a simple description of what they look like and what they are good at. Ex: This is John. and what they are good at. Ex: This is John. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. John He has short brown hair and brown eyes. John is good at knocking down block towers. is good at knocking down block towers. Laminate the book and place in the library Laminate the book and place in the library area. Read it often, both to individual children area. Read it often, both to individual children and at group times.and at group times.

Lesson 5Lesson 5

Objective: To provide specific information about a Objective: To provide specific information about a disability.disability.

Read Read Andy and his Yellow Frisbee. Andy and his Yellow Frisbee. This book tells This book tells the story of what happens when a new girl tries to the story of what happens when a new girl tries to befriend Andy, a boy with autism. Adapt as needed befriend Andy, a boy with autism. Adapt as needed for your classroom. Depending on your situation, for your classroom. Depending on your situation, you may want to read this book to small groups of you may want to read this book to small groups of children.children.

Always model ways to interact.Always model ways to interact. Use dolls or puppets to provide information about a Use dolls or puppets to provide information about a

disability.disability. Provide experiences that help teach about Provide experiences that help teach about

disabilities as appropriate for your class. Ex; disabilities as appropriate for your class. Ex; Young children may need supervised opportunities Young children may need supervised opportunities to try out specific communication devices and to try out specific communication devices and adaptive equipment. adaptive equipment.

VocabularyVocabulary

friendfriend same same differentdifferent shortshort longlong autism or other correct autism or other correct

terminology as needed for your terminology as needed for your classroom.classroom.

EvaluationEvaluation

Teacher observation and anecdotal logs should Teacher observation and anecdotal logs should be used to document progress. Use the camerabe used to document progress. Use the camerato help document play interactions. Related artto help document play interactions. Related artprojects may be kept in a portfolio orprojects may be kept in a portfolio orphotographed. All children should be able to photographed. All children should be able to participate in classroom activities in some way.participate in classroom activities in some way.Just sitting in the classroom is not good enough.Just sitting in the classroom is not good enough.Positive attitudes are fostered through positivePositive attitudes are fostered through positiveexperiences.experiences.

Teacher resourcesTeacher resourcesCarpenter, E. S., Diamond, K.E., Hestenes, L. L., & Carpenter, E. S., Diamond, K.E., Hestenes, L. L., &

Innes, F. K. (1997). Relationships between enrollment in Innes, F. K. (1997). Relationships between enrollment in an inclusive class and preschool children’s ideas about an inclusive class and preschool children’s ideas about people with disabilities. people with disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 17,Education, 17, Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Academic Search Premier database.Academic Search Premier database.

Cross, A. F., Hutter-Pishgahi, L., Shelton, G., & Traub, Cross, A. F., Hutter-Pishgahi, L., Shelton, G., & Traub, E. K. (2004). Elements of successful inclusion for E. K. (2004). Elements of successful inclusion for children with significant disabilities. children with significant disabilities. Topics in Early Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 24, Childhood Special Education, 24, Retrieved January 29, Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Academic Search Premier database.2005, from Academic Search Premier database.

Derman-Sparks, L. (2001 chap. 5). Derman-Sparks, L. (2001 chap. 5). Anti-biasAnti-bias curriculum curriculum tools for empoweringtools for empowering young children.young children. Washington DC: Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young National Association for the Education of Young Children.Children.

Teacher Resources Teacher Resources cont.cont.

Diamond, K.E. & Stacey, S. (2003). The other children at Diamond, K.E. & Stacey, S. (2003). The other children at Preschool. Experiences of typically developing children in Preschool. Experiences of typically developing children in inclusive programs. In C. Copple (Ed.), inclusive programs. In C. Copple (Ed.), A world A world of difference of difference (pp.135-139). Washington DC: National Association for the (pp.135-139). Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.Education of Young Children.

Diamond, K. E. (2001). Relationships among young Diamond, K. E. (2001). Relationships among young children’s children’s

ideas, emotional understanding, and social contact with ideas, emotional understanding, and social contact with classmates with disabilities.classmates with disabilities. Topics in EarlyTopics in Early Childhood Special Childhood Special EducationEducation, 21, 21,, Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Academic Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Academic Search Premier database.Search Premier database.

Garfinkle, A.N., & Schwartz, I. S. (2002). Peer imitation: Garfinkle, A.N., & Schwartz, I. S. (2002). Peer imitation: increasing social interactions in children with autism and other increasing social interactions in children with autism and other developmental disabilities in inclusive preschool classrooms. developmental disabilities in inclusive preschool classrooms. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 22Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 22,, Retrieved Retrieved January 29, 2005, from Academic Search Premier database.January 29, 2005, from Academic Search Premier database.

Books about Books about AutismAutism

Russell Is Extra Special by Russell Is Extra Special by Amenta III, M.DAmenta III, M.DThis book describes the daily life, likes and dislikes,This book describes the daily life, likes and dislikes,And habits of a boy with autism. It could be used by And habits of a boy with autism. It could be used by parents or teachers to help children learn about parents or teachers to help children learn about autism. The pictures are all natural photos.autism. The pictures are all natural photos.

Looking after LouisLooking after Louis. By L. Ely. By L. ElyThis book would be very helpful for a kindergartenThis book would be very helpful for a kindergartenor first grade classroom. It describes what happens or first grade classroom. It describes what happens when a new boy with autism joins a classroom, and when a new boy with autism joins a classroom, and the children try to understand his world and include the children try to understand his world and include him in theirs.him in theirs.

Ian’s walk by L. Lears Ian’s walk by L. Lears This book was written for siblings of children with autism. It This book was written for siblings of children with autism. It tells the story of when a young girl realizes how much she cares tells the story of when a young girl realizes how much she cares about her brother with autism when he gets lost in the park. about her brother with autism when he gets lost in the park.

More Books About More Books About AutismAutism

Andy and his Yellow Frisbee Andy and his Yellow Frisbee by M. Thompsonby M. ThompsonThis book tells the story of what happens when the This book tells the story of what happens when the new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, a boy with new girl at school tries to befriend Andy, a boy with autism, who spends every recess by himself, autism, who spends every recess by himself,

spinningspinninga yellow Frisbee. The text can be simplified and a yellow Frisbee. The text can be simplified and used with preschool children.used with preschool children.

Talking to Angels Talking to Angels by E. Watsonby E. WatsonThe narrator of this book is the sister of a girl with The narrator of this book is the sister of a girl with autism. It is written as a tribute to her sister. The autism. It is written as a tribute to her sister. The text is very simple and moving.text is very simple and moving.

Books about other Books about other DisabilitiesDisabilities

A-B-C-ing: An Action Alphabet A-B-C-ing: An Action Alphabet by Belletby Bellet

This is a great alphabet book showing children with This is a great alphabet book showing children with

various disabilities being active.various disabilities being active.

Like Me Like Me by Brightmanby Brightman

This book is about a developmentally delayed child. This book is about a developmentally delayed child.

It is written from the child’s viewpoint.It is written from the child’s viewpoint.

Our Brother has Down’s SyndromeOur Brother has Down’s Syndrome by Cairo by Cairo

This book does a nice job of talking about a child with This book does a nice job of talking about a child with Down’s Down’s

Syndrome.Syndrome.

My Friend Jacob My Friend Jacob by Cliftonby Clifton

In this book, a child tells about his best friend who is In this book, a child tells about his best friend who is

developmentally delayed.developmentally delayed.

More BooksMore Books About About DisabilitiesDisabilities

Jo, Flo, and Yolanda Jo, Flo, and Yolanda by DePoixby DePoix

This book helps children explore the similarities and This book helps children explore the similarities and

differences between friends.differences between friends.

Grandma’s WheelchairGrandma’s Wheelchair by Henriod by Henriod

This is a nice book showing an active grandma in a This is a nice book showing an active grandma in a

wheelchair.wheelchair.

Catching Catching by Jensen by Jensen

This book has pictures to feel. Great for both blind and This book has pictures to feel. Great for both blind and

sighted children.sighted children.

Don’t Forget Tom Don’t Forget Tom by Larsonby Larson

This story is about a child with developmental delaysThis story is about a child with developmental delays

More BooksMore Books About About DisabilitiesDisabilities

I HaveI Have a Sister, My Sister Is Deaf a Sister, My Sister Is Deaf by Petersonby PetersonThis is a nice book that explores both sibling This is a nice book that explores both sibling relationships and being deaf.relationships and being deaf.

About Handicaps About Handicaps by Steinby SteinA typically developing child faces his fears about a A typically developing child faces his fears about a

friend friend with a disability. This book covers a very important with a disability. This book covers a very important

topic topic that is not usually addressed in children’s literature.that is not usually addressed in children’s literature.

All About Me/Let’s Be Friends All About Me/Let’s Be Friends by Weissman by Weissman This book is appropriate for very young children. It This book is appropriate for very young children. It shows children from various races and children with shows children from various races and children with disabilities.disabilities.

Books About Friends Books About Friends for Young Childrenfor Young Children

My Friend Bear My Friend Bear by Alboroughby AlboroughThis is one of my favorite children’s books. A young boy This is one of my favorite children’s books. A young boy and a bear are initially afraid of each other and then and a bear are initially afraid of each other and then find out that they have many things in common. find out that they have many things in common.

Titch and Daisy Titch and Daisy by Hutchinsby HutchinsThis book is about facing fears and joining in to make newThis book is about facing fears and joining in to make newfriends.friends.

One Duck Stuck One Duck Stuck by Rootby RootThis is a wonderful counting and rhyming book about This is a wonderful counting and rhyming book about cooperation.cooperation.

Will You Be My Friend? Will You Be My Friend? by Tafuriby TafuriA gentle story about a bunny and a bird helping each A gentle story about a bunny and a bird helping each

other.other.