Us and Them

Ages 11-15

Inquiry Question:

What causes war? At what point could we have gone in a better direction?

Workshop Description: 

Through this powerful work on diversity and equity, students live inside a story (using multiple role play strategies) and experience a journey of twists and turns which teach real life lessons without real life consequences.  They discover there really is no difference between “us” and “them.”  We have much in common with others and must find ways to appreciate and value what others have to offer knowing we will be enriched by it.  Through collaboration, problem solving, creativity and cross-curricular experiences, students learn to have compassion for people with values that are different from their own and accept people for who they are.  This unit reflects the bigger themes in Romeo and Juliet and could be considered an analogy of that famous story. Handout provided.

Your students will be able to:

1. Collaboratively create and discover a unique culture

2. Think critically about daily interactions with each other and others

3. Recognize the best communication is not always received clearly

4. Realize fighting involves more loss then one can predict

5. Be open to learn that other perspectives are equally valuable