Skills Building: A Kid's Book About Racism (PK-2)

Written by and illustrated by Jelani Memory

Pre- Reading Questions

What does it mean to be racist?
What does it mean to be anti-racist?
Do you think kids can talk about racism?
Why is talking about racism important?

Post- Reading Questions

Why do you think some people think it’s OK to treat others differently because they have a different skin color?
Have you ever seen someone be treated differently because of their skin color? Have you ever been treated differently because of your skin color? (Hint: if you have white students, challenge them to think of a time that they might have had an advantage because of their whiteness.)
How can we help others learn about the harms of racism?
What will you do next time when you see or experience someone being racist?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Our Masks of Differences

Overview

In the books Something Happened in Our Town and A Kid’s Book About Racism, we read about racism and how we might see it in our lives. In this activity, we are going to make masks that represent ourselves and the things that we love about ourselves. At the end of this activity, we will talk more about racism, how we can work towards being anti-racist, and reflect on what we’ve learned.

Materials

Mask templates printed on cardstock
Popsicle sticks
Markers/crayons
Tape
Scissors
Stickers

Duration: 45 minutes (for staff: 5-minute pre-activity setup, 15-minute prep)

5 minutes: Introduce the activity using the book
15 minutes: Students decorate their masks, older students also cut-out their masks
5 minutes: Clean up
20 minutes: Reflect, share, and discuss racism

Instructions

Introduce the activity.
Each student receives a mask template. Staff should pre-cut masks for younger students or students who may have trouble cutting it themselves. Older students can cut the masks themselves
Decorate one side of the mask in a way that represents the student in some way (favorite colors, foods, family, sports, etc). The other side of the mask should be left blank.
Tape the popsicle stick to the blank side of the mask.
Clean up the materials.
Reflect, share, and discuss racism.

Reflection Questions

Share your mask with your neighbor. How are your masks similar and different?
Have all students flip their mask so the blank side is facing out.
- How does it feel if we all look the same?
- Now flip the masks, how does it feel now that we all look different?
- What would it be like if we were all the same?
- You all worked hard on your masks, would you like it if no one noticed what makes you unique and said that you are all the same? How would that feel?

Privilege & Racism Activity

Do this part of the exercise with students in grades 2-5 only; PK – 1 students to observe and discuss, if possible, but should watch rather than participate. Before beginning this exercise, explain to the students that we are going to “role-play” or act and that you are impressed with how hard they worked on their masks and love all of them in their own unique way.