Projects Connect Families around Difference

JK classrooms exhibited a wide range of art pieces produced by families following their shared reading of a book about diversity.

To ensure parents and guardians had the same vocabulary as their children before participating in this experience, teachers asked them to read the article “Curriculum as Window and Mirror” by Emily Style. Next, each family selected a book from a non-exhaustive list teachers provided or from their home libraries to read together. After reading the book they selected together, families collaborated on a project based on the book or its themes. Parents, guardians and their children painted pictures, wrote poems and/or constructed sculptures or dioramas to extend the ideas and conversations during and after reading the book. With their piece complete, each family wrote a description of their process and/or thoughts while creating it.

As a culminating activity , teachers set up all projects in the classroom and orchestrated a “museum walk” wherein each family had a chance to visit all classrooms to take in the projects and engage in informal conversations with other families about their experience.

Enjoy photos from this JK family experience here.