PREVIEW 2018-2019 Teacher Guidelines PREVIEW ENGLISH ArtLink Handbook HQ 2018-2019 - FI | Page 7

II. Lesson Plan and Activities
Introductory Lesson: Challenging Stereotypes
Launch the project with an activity to uncover stereotyping, a pattern of thought that too often serves as a
substitute for thinking. This initial activity is an effective way to “unsettle” the students’ minds and open them to
the multiple perspectives they will be exposed to in ArtLink.
Note: Educators may change any of the main characters, their occupations, or the items on the list of gifts to better reflect the stereotypical views
common in your students’ culture.
Activity
1. Preparation
2. Launch
Description and Important Points
a. Before students arrive, on flash cards, or simply on the black or
white board, write and/or post the following:
• Alan, a taxi driver
• Natasha, a Red Cross volunteer
• Hiroshi, an eighth-grade “A” student on the debate team
• Anna, a senior citizen
As students arrive, start a class discussion with the following
questions:
• What is a stereotype? (An image of a group of people
that labels every member of that group with the same
characteristics)
• Do all people have stereotypes? (Yes, as far as we know)
• List all the circumstances you can think of where
stereotyping would be harmful
b. Ask students to imagine that there will be a celebration and
they are given the task of buying a present for each of the listed
people. Which of the following gifts would they choose for
each? Write on the board the final group decision for each
individual listed:
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a.
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3. Analyzing
Materials
A new dictionary
A rocking chair
Two tickets to the opera
A pair of skis
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A leather jacket
A makeup kit
A new iPhone
A first-aid kit
a. Analyze with students Did they choose:
• The leather jacket for Alan because that's what a taxi
driver would wear?
.
• A first-aid kit for Natasha because it may come in handy
the next time she helps out in an emergency?
• The dictionary for Hiroshi because he can use it to
help with his studies?
• The rocking chair for Anna because she probably
doesn't get out much, and she can use it to watch TV or
watch the birds out the window?
b. These may be the "usual" choices, but the people on our list are
all individuals. They don't fit in the neat categories.
• Alan is a theater major at the local university. He drives
the cab to make money for school. He would love the
opera tickets because wants to be an opera singer.
• Natasha is 16 years old and wants to listen to music on
her new iPhone while volunteering at the Red Cross
office. She doesn't need a first-aid kit to file paperwork.
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2018 -2019 ArtLink Program “Heritage”
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