Exploring Identity and Empathy in Kindergarten

 

Kindergartners participate in a variety of activities. For example, they create family picture books, make self-portraits, and create glyphs to illustrate their family structure. Inspired by the book, “The Color of Us!” by Karen Katz, teachers also guide students in exploring skin color through the lens of science rather than race and stereotype. They learn their skin color is a combination of melanin, family ancestry, where they live, and what time of year it is. This year, teachers added graphing exercises for students to see how many similarities they share and the differences that make them unique. These exercises not only bring a mathematical dimension to children’s explorations but also promote the acquisition of vocabulary needed to have respectful conversations and celebrate one another. View a video of an All About Me lesson in action.