Anti-Bias Activity: Draw Me / Draw You

Draw Me/Draw You is a great activity to help children understand that everyone is alike and different in many ways, but each individual is special and we have to learn how to appreciate beauty and value of others. We all have to know that there is no need to disrespect another person just because they look, talk, smell, act, etc., different from us.

            In this activity, each child has a partner, who will sit directly across the table, and will be encouraged to draw a picture of their face. Each child will be asked to look at the different features in detail. Some examples of what should be looked at are color of skin, eyes, and hair, length of hair, and whether it’s curly or straight, and if the other child has freckles. Upon the completion of their drawings, they will exchange their portraits.

            There aren’t many materials needed for this specific activity. In fact, we may all have these things around the house and they can definitely be found in any classroom. The materials needed are as follows: drawing paper, felt-tip pens, and crayons.

            I was able to do this activity with my sons and nephews. Their ages are 4, 5, 6, and 7. Yes, very convenient. I was able to get an idea of how advanced each child was in their ability to pay attention to detail. My 4 year old son picked up a purple crayon and started to draw a crooked circle for the face, two dots for eyes and a crooked smile, all with the same color crayon. There was no hair, no nose, and no ears. My 5 year old son had a drawing that was almost identical except for the few additional details like using the yellow crayon for the hair, and a blue crayon to draw the eyes. My 6 year old nephew is in a ninja phase so he drew my 4 year old son with a black ninja mask that covered his eyes. There was nothing I could do about this one. The 7 year old did the most impressive job with his drawing because he obviously paid attention to the instructions that I gave before they started to draw. He drew my 5 year old son with blond hair, brown eyes, a few light freckles on his cheeks, fair skinned, and a big smile that was missing the top two teeth.

            The three things goals that I could connect from the handout “Anti-Bias Activity Goals” were:

1.     Recognize, appreciate, and respect the uniqueness, beauty, value and contribution of each child.

2.     Promote respect towards others.

3.     Provide children with a positive experience exploring similarities and differences.

           

            These goals could all fall under the Multicultural Education that York speaks of. “Recognize and respect human similarities and differences, and develop skills for living in a diverse society. Alike and different; clothes; foods; and families” (York, pg. 134).

            I found two very cute children’s books that talk about how we are different and the same in many ways. These books contain great color and describe a variety of cultures. I believe that these books would be a great read for children of different ages.

1.     We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates

2.     Special People, Special Ways by Arlene Maguire

Here are a few different variations in how this activity could be presented:

1.     Have the children describe themselves to each other before they begin drawing.

2.     Have the children share their drawings with the class at group time.

3.     Play a guessing game during group time. Have the children look at the drawing and guess who it is.

            I chose this particular activity because the materials were easily accessible and I wanted to try doing it with my children first for the experience. They enjoy coloring and drawing, so I knew that it would be an activity that they could have fun with. They liked this activity even more because they were able to do it with their cousins.

            I believe that this activity is appropriate for children whose ages range from 3-9, because they do the following:

·      Make false associations and overgeneralize

·      Explore real and pretend, fair and unfair

·      Understand group membership; form groups to distinguish self from others

            (York, pg. 21).

Children in this age range are able to acknowledge the similarities and differences that they share with those around them. This activity would also be a great conversation starter in talking about the importance of respecting and accepting those that are different.

           

            The three concepts that are relatable to this activity and how it meets the anti-bias goals are as follows:

1.     People are similar

2.     People are different

3.     Some physical attributes stay the same and some change

As we have been learning from the beginning of this class, children are able to tell/see differences from a very early age. Being able to draw their partner and then having discussions will help them understand why we are similar and different. We all have eyes for seeing, noses for smelling, mouths for eating, hands for touching, legs for walking, etc. My nose and mouth might look different from the next persons, but it still has the same function.

York, Stacey. (2003). Roots & Wings Affirming Culture in Early Childhood Programs. St. Paul, MN

I Knew You Could! By Craig Dorfman

            I chose to do my analysis on a book that my children own that is titled I Knew You Could! This book was written by Craig Dorfman, illustrated by Cristina Ong, and published in 2003. The first time I read this book, I knew that I’ve read something similar before, but just couldn’t put my finger on it. Then it hit me! It sounded a lot like another book that I’ve read a long time ago titled The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. I Knew You Could! is like a sequel with a new little twist on the classic The Little Engine That Could.

            The book is written in a rhyme about a little blue train that keeps moving forward when faced with different struggles, choices, surprises, and worries that life brings. The little blue train travels the rails and is constantly faced with which track to take. There are plenty of stops along the way and each stop has a new lesson to teach. When faced with surprises, the encouraging words that help to keep moving forward are, “I think I can!” As life takes a turn that seems scary and new, it may seem like a tunnel or a bad track. That same track will lead you out, and yet again, on another new track, a new adventure, and a new journey. The little blue train wishes to be a car or a plane, but then realizes that the plane or the car could be wishing to be a train. The train is encouraged to enjoy the trip of life as a train and not anything else. Along the way, the train meets new friends and is told to reach out to friends when feeling sad, because that’s what friends are for. The little blue train works hard some days to show the world that it’ll never give up. It also talks about the importance of slowing down today to have a happier tomorrow. Having faith in yourself and the decisions you make will help you grow, and saying, “I think I can!” will help you get there.

            This story is great because it gives the little blue train all the power of making personal choices in life. It is encouraged to take its own track and learn lessons along the way without giving up. These lessons that are learned along the way bring great wisdom. “You’re wise if you know that doing your best means that sometimes you should just slow down and rest.” (Dorfman, 2003, p. 27). The author tells the story in second person and motivates the little blue train to stay positive and to always believe in himself/herself.

            The train in the book is without a gender, so it can be a male or female. Since the book was written in second person, when being read to a classroom of children, it’s not just a boy train or a girl train.

            Looking through the pictures in the book, most of the passengers were white. One page had a group of six kids waving to the train as it was passing by. Out of the 6 kids, only one had dark skin. The rest were all white. Another picture that showed people at a train station had six white people and two African American looking individuals. The book is written in a way that could be motivational to young children as well as adults.

            I love the way that the author helps pushing the little blue train to keep moving forward, to not give up, and to always stay positive when the going gets tough. He gives valuable lessons that anyone can apply to their own life like not rushing forward, because you might not be able to make it to your destination on the fuel you have, being yourself and not anyone else, believing in yourself, turning to friends for help, and not being afraid to toot your own horn.

            I couldn’t find any information on the author Craig Dorfman for his perspective. I like reading about where the authors find the inspiration for their stories and a little background of where they are from and what other books they have written. I couldn’t even find a picture of the author.

            I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a great book for children and adults alike. One of the reviewers online stated that she purchased a copy for each of her children. She is having the teachers sign the book at the end of each school year, and will be giving the signed books to her kids on their graduation day. Encouraging children that they are capable of accomplishing anything that they put their mind to is very important. The positive message of trusting in yourself and saying, “I think I can!” every time you face a difficult task, and at the end succeeding. Children need that extra boost of confidence and encouragement and they can find it in this great book.

References:

Dorfman, C. (2003). I Knew You Could! 

I have never had a blog in the past and this is driving me kind of crazy trying to figure out. I hate not knowing something and not feeling comfortable doing something solo. Let's hope that the rest of the semester goes smoother.