Topic. Identities, diversity and common values
“We may have different religious, different languages,
different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race”
Kofi Annan
Learning outcomes
Students should be able to:
Resources required
PROCEDURE
Activities |
Time required |
Ask the students to imagine they were writing their profile to join Instagram. Explain that the rules of the site have changed and they have to write their profile using only three words to describe who they are. They should think not just of physical descriptions or personality, but also words relating to other factors such as their beliefs, the different communities they belong to and their origins. Ask if anyone is willing to share their profile with others. Ask them why they chose the words they did. Where does their identity come from? Discuss – is anyone in the class exactly the same? Is it OK to be different? What factors affect a person’s identity? (their beliefs, interests, gender, race, where they live, family, values, etc.)? |
0 – 5 mins |
Pick students to read out the four Celebrity Identity Cards. Students take it in turns to read out the sentences on the cards. The rest of the class listen, and when the student reads out something that they have in common with the person they should put their hand up. Continue until all or most of the class have their hands up. NB: Didier Drogba is a trained accountant and was criticized for his weakness for fast food! (Hence the characteristics on the card.) Summarise by explaining that even though people have many differences in religion, age, culture, ability, etc, people have also a lot in common. There are both similarities and differences between people. |
5 – 10 mins |
Ukraine (or your town or school) is very “diverse” – what does it mean? Brainstorm as a class. In small groups, discuss the benefits and challenges of living in a diverse society (or learning in a diverse school, if relevant). Feedback from each group. Summarise: there are many benefits to living in a diverse society but there are also challenges. Explain that you will discuss the challenges later. |
10 – 30 mins |
Even though we are diverse, there is one thing we all have in common: ask the class what this is. One thing we all have in common is that we are human beings. We all have human rights. Human rights are based on a set of values. We are going to explore our own values and see if we can develop a set of values we share as a class. Remind the class of the definition of a value – “A value is a belief about what is right or wrong and what is most important in life which influences behaviour” Give out the Values cards to small groups, students choose the nine cards they think are the most important, then rank the values using a diamond ranking pattern. They try and reach a consensus on the top three. There is a space for them to add another value they think is important. Facilitate feedback from the groups. Ask them to explain the reasons for the pattern they chose and write the top three values of each group on the board and try as a class to group them together to identify the values the group share. This activity encourages students to explore their own values and values that they share with other people. Remind the students of some of the core values of the UDHR, the first international human rights document (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights ). Do they remember what those core values were? Refer back to FRED. Discuss: Do their shared class values match the FRED values? Does everyone in the class agree with the FRED values? Are there any that they would like to add? Remind the class that the majority of countries adopted the UDHR and have agreed to subsequent human rights treaties. Most would say they agree with the core values within it. Even though we are all different there are shared fundamental values which most people agree with. |
30 – 50 mins |
Thinking back to the challenges the groups identified of living in a diverse society, how do you think the shared values of human rights can help overcome these challenges?
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50 – 60 mins |
RESOURCE SHEET 1
CELEBRITY IDENTITY CARDS
I am a Muslim. I support a football team. I love boxing.
I am Amir Khan, Commonwealth lightweight boxing champion
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I am interested I fashion. My friends are very important to me. I am Christian. I was born in the US.
I am Beyonce, Lead singer of the world’s best selling female group of all time – Destiny’s Child |
I grew up in France. I like burgers. I love football. I am good at maths.
I am Didier Drogba, Chelsea football player
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I play the piano. I was born in England. I am a Christian.
I am Elizabeth II, the Queen of England
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RESOURCE SHEET 2
VALUE CARDS
Materialism Financial success – making money
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Peace Resolving conflict without violence |
Fairness Treating people fairly
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Reliability Keeping promises |
Equality People should be treated equally no matter who they are |
Competitiveness Being the best |
Ambition Trying to reach your full potential |
Freedom Freedom for individuals to be who they want to be, freedom of speech |
Tolerance Accepting and valuing people’s differences
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Respect for others Respecting other people’s views and way of life |
Honesty Telling the truth at all times |
Protecting the environment Being environmentally friendly in everything that you do |
Compassion Caring for others
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Generosity Giving to others |
Other:
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Other: |
RESOURCE SHEET 3
CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (FRED)