Open

“We Are a Rainbow People” by Rev. Naomi King

Light the chalice and read the chalice lighting words. Note that while the reading is mostly in English, there is one line in Spanish and one in French. Practice ahead of time if needed. It’s ok if you don’t do it perfectly!

(Hint: You can copy and paste the lines into Google Translate to hear how they should be pronounced.)

Check-In Question: 

What is one thing that makes you unique?

Read

“Where I’m from” by Saniyah, 6th grade (About halfway down the page)

Discuss:

Consider the following questions:

• How is Saniyah’s experience similar or different from your own?
• Where are you from? Where are your ancestors from?
• Based on the poem, what is Saniyah’s ethnicity? What might Saniyah’s culture be?

Watch

"Race, Ethnicity, and Culture" (YouTube)

Discuss: Did you know there was a difference between race, ethnicity, and culture?

Do

Social Identity Wheel Activity

Create a collage using the social identity handout. Use words, pictures, drawings, stickers, or anything else to represent your race, your ethnicity, and your culture.

Note that some students may not be able to identify their race or ethnicity. For race, encourage them to identify their skin color and offer some examples of common racial categories we use in the United States (African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, White, Native American, etc.). For ethnicity, ask students if they know where their ancestors were from and give a few examples (Irish, Nigerian, Greek, Syrian, Indian, Chinese, Nicaraguan, etc.). For culture, have students consider the country where they were born, what foods they eat, what music they listen to, what clothes they wear, what religion they practice, and anything else related to their beliefs, customs, arts, and lifestyle.

Close

Prayer from “All That Shimmers”

By Laura Solomon

(prayer only, bottom of page)

Read the prayer and extinguish the chalice.

Check-out question: What is one thing you do or can do to honor your race and/or culture?

Take Home

Share your collage with your grownup, a friend, or other loved one. Talk about what you both love about your race, ethnicity, and culture.

Check out one (or all!) of the following from your local library and consider how race, ethnicity, and culture show up in each of the stories:

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

• In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III

• The Crossover by Kwame Alexander