Antisectarian

Using a diversity poster

Using a diversity poster: teaching suggestions

Background:

The diversity poster (PDF file) from Aberdeen was launched in July 2003 and is an adaptation of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) posters for Britain and London. It is the first in Scotland and the first to use full colour. It has been very successful and schools in Aberdeen have used this format to make their own school posters - do the same for your school or community.

Diversity comes from the visible and invisible differences that exist between people - for example, those based on religion, belief, gender, race, ethnic origin, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, body shape, age, economic class, language, nationality, education and family/marital status. All of these differences contribute to different experiences of life, values, attitudes, ways of thinking and communicating.

Purposes of the curriculum 3-18 

Using the diversity poster in the ways described below can contribute toward young people becoming:

  • successful learners able to make reasoned evaluations, think creatively and independently
  • confident individuals with able to relate to others and be self aware
  • responsible citizens with respect for others and commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life
  • effective contributors able to apply critical thinking in new contexts

How to use this exercise:

A range of suggested questions and activities for primary and secondary pupils follows. Most of the questions are subjective and require creative and critical thinking. Children should be encouraged to discuss answers and offer a variety of responses. Some questions require independent research. It is possible to focus on one difference such as religion or on diversity in general. The 2001 Census will provide detailed information on some of the diversity within your local communities and should be available online or from your local councils. Click here for information on the different religions across Scotland.

Primary School discussion (most suitable for P5 upwards):

  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?

Primary School 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 4 or 5 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. (In U-18, there are suggestions in the Don't Give it, Don't Take it section which might assist.)

Secondary School Discussion:

  1. What are the main ideas or themes suggested by this poster?
  2. What are the visible differences you can see in the poster? What invisible differences might there be? Invisible differences like religion (unless your religion requires some outward show of the faith) can sometimes be the most difficult to deal with.
  3. Which person in the poster do you think you would find it easiest to talk to? Why? Once you started talking would the discovery of invisible differences make things more difficult? Who might be the most difficult to talk to? Why? If you started talking, do you think there would be invisible similarities?
  4. What does the word 'stereotype' mean? Do stereotypes stop us talking to others? Are stereotypes condoned and exploited by the media, including TV programmes and films?
  5. Ask individuals how they would like to express their identity, stressing that uncertainty is very common. Do they change their description depending on circumstances, e.g. when might they include religious belief?

Secondary School Activities:

  1. Ask class to bring in examples of artwork, poetry or music that they believe fits the theme of the poster. All religions and atheists have a version of the Golden Rule ('Treat other people in the way that you would like to be treated') which is expressed in scriptures, teachings and music. Look at the Golden Rule Assembly also on this website.
  2. Invite class to create a 3-dimensional artwork (with any materials or medium available) using the poster slogan as inspiration.
  3. Help pupils find (or create their own) artwork and text and design their own Diversity poster. They could convert these to powerpoint presentations or videos. The invisible differences can help to show the invisible differences. Display the posters in school or any other appropriate place.
  4. Choose a friend and list the ways you are different from each other. Then think of someone you have problems getting along with and, without using his or her name, list all the ways you are like that person. In small groups, compare lists and brainstorm: How can people develop and maintain friendships in spite of differences? How can people who have differences find common ground? Create a list of suggestions and share with the class.
  5. Make a diversity poster for the class, year group or for the whole school which concentrates on invisible differences such as religion. Thought and speech bubbles are one way to show invisible differences. Display!