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OUTWARD APPEARANCES
Exploring what it is to judge someone based on their outward appearance.
Learning Area(s): Responsibility, Honesty, Dealing with Challenges and Adversity
Episode: “Trick or Treat”
Synopsis: On Halloween, Brother and Sister are scared of a neighbor who “looks and acts” like a witch. They learn that she’s actually a kind, fun-loving lady and not to judge others by appearances or preconceptions.
Objectives: Grades: K-2
Children will:
Discuss the concept of different outward appearances.
Dress up in different pretend-play clothes and evaluate how the costumes/outfits change the wearee’s appearance.
McRel Standard(s): Behavioral Studies - Standard 1.1, Understands that people are alike in many ways, and different in many ways.
Core Curriculum Area(s): Social Studies, Language Arts
Materials Needed: multicolored M&M candy (without peanuts), bowl, different costumes or “dress-up” play clothes, full-length mirror
Think & Do Activity Preparation:
- Bring a bag of multi-colored M&M candy (non-peanut) & pour into a small bowl.
- Make sure that there are enough “dress-up” clothes so that each child may wear an outfit. (If not, then this part of the activity should be broken into two groups: outfit wearers and an audience – then the groups can reverse roles.)
- Note: This activity should take place after lunch since it involves eating candy! Also be sure that no child has an allergy to chocolate.
Think & Do Activity Description:
- Show the bowl of M&M’s to the class and ask them which colors they see on the outside of each candy. Ask if they have a favorite colored M&M and why? Ask what they think is inside each colored candy shell–is it the same or different underneath each color?
- Allow children to eat some of the candy as you explain that just as these candies seem to be different on the outside, but are the same on the inside–he same can also be true of people. You might not be able to tell if someone thinks, acts or feels differently from you just by what they look like (or wear) on the outside.
- Brainstorm about different things that can make people look different from each other: skin and eye color, clothes, height, weight, hair style, make-up, etc. (Provide hints to children if they have difficulty generating ideas.)
- Tell children that they can dress up in a “pretend-play” outfit of their choice. And encourage them to look at themselves in the full-length mirror (if available).
- As a group, look at each child’s outfit in terms of how it changes their appearance. Do they now look: nice, mean, fun, business-like, scary, funny, etc? Then discuss whether clothes really changed the person wearing them. Are the people underneath the clothes the same as they were before they put them on? Why or why not? How are they the same? How are they different?
- Allow children to continue dramatic play in their “dress-up” outfits!
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