Understanding Communities and Differences

Introduction

• Join the class in a circle, seated or standing.
• Hold and show them one potato in your hand.
• Tell them that you haven't thought much about potatoes, and to you, each one has always been pretty much the same.
• Say that by categorizing potatoes in this way, you have almost taken them for granted.
• Mention that, in some ways, potatoes are like people.
• Pass out potatoes to each student.
• Ask them to look closely at their potato, and to get to know it.
• Tell them to look at the shape and get to know its bruises and bumps.
• Ask them to make friends with their potato by looking at it in this way for a minute in silence.
• Explain to them that they can introduce their potato to the class after they take a minute to get to know it.
• After a minute, invite each student to introduce their "friend" to the class.
• Pass the bag around to collect all potatoes.
• Say, "It seems as if potatoes are a lot like people. Sometimes we place individuals in one group all together and think they are all the same. When we think a group is all alike, it is like saying we have not given the time to get to know each person. If we take time to get to know each person, we will find that everyone is unique and special in their own way, just like our potato friends here."
• Empty the bag of potatoes into the center of the circle.
• Tell students to come up and find their potato.