Skills Building: Something Happened in our Town (3-5)

Written by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins & Ann Hazzard and illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

Pre- Reading Questions

What is racism?
Why is it important to talk about racism and racist systems of oppression?
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.)
Has there been a crime caused by racism that you have seen on the news or heard about that is memorable to you? How did it make you feel?

Post- Reading Questions

What does it mean to be racist? There are racist people and there are systems that are racist and designed to be oppressive to people of color. Can you think of any of these systems?
What do you think it means to be anti-racist?
What is “the pattern” that Emma and her mother discuss?
What do you think Josh’s dad means when he says “I can use my anger to make things better?”
How can you use your anger to make things better?
What do Josh and Emma do to help the new kid, Omad, at school? How can you make a difference to help change racist systems?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Our Masks of Difference

Overview

In the books, Something Happened in Our Town and A Kid’s Book About Racism, we read about racism, what racism is, and how it might show up 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 to represent the student in some way (their 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 and Racism Activity

Do this part of the exercise with students in grades 2-5 only, allow PK – 1 students to observe and discuss, if possible, but do not have them 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.