Multicultural Lesson Plans for Preschool - Take Children Around the Globe
How to Introduce Multiculturalism in Your Classroom
This guide will give you multiple ideas for creating multicultural lesson plans for preschool. When beginning your global explorations with your preschoolers, activities tend to focus on likenesses and differences, learning to get along with others and feeling good about themselves. You can survey the families in your class for background and ethnic origins. These families can be asked to share traditions, customs, foods, music, language and artifacts with the class. Ways that families are the same and different can be explored and celebrated.
[caption id=“attachment_130329” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]
Multiculturalism helps students learn to appreciate other cultures[/caption]
Prepare for your culture themes by placing a world map on your bulletin board. As you visit different countries and continents, make paper cutouts and mark your travels. This will provide visual recognition to other places in the world versus your town USA. Reach out to the world through story time. Whenever possible, use books with real photos of people doing everyday tasks. In this way, children can make connections that “others” are more like us than different. In this guide you will find articles that express suggestions for picture books about other cultures, learning about culinary tastes, games other children play (some like ours and some different), crafts that represent other countries, language, songs and much more.
- My Family Heritage
- How to Host Week-long Preschool Culture Activities
- Culture Fun with Toddlers
- Flags Around the World
- Tapestry of Diversity: Multicultural Pre-K Art Ideas
- Talking About Diversity with Preschool Children: Books to Share and Enjoy
- Multicultural Preschool Activities: Games to Play From Around the World
- Multicultural Crafts for Pre-K: Around the World with Art
- How to Create a Bilingual Preschool Room: Circle Time Ideas, Activities and More
- Including a Foreign Language in the Preschool Curriculum
- Foreign Language Infant Learning Resources
- Children’s Songs in Spanish Will Be a Hit in Your Preschool Classroom
- Holidays Around the World: Songs for Preschool Students
Visiting Asia
Asian culture can be fascinating
Your multicultural lesson plans for preschool can also include the populous countries of China and Japan. Studying China promotes a sense of common heritage as children explore family life, arts and culture, customs and festivals. China’s culture dates back over 5000 years. In the classroom, preschoolers can learn about the Chinese people’s love for nature and beauty, talk about their festivals, customs and explore and experience Chinese family life. The Japanese developed their culture and the arts early in their history. The island is off the coast of Asia; a beautiful country with well-respected people and customs. Your class can learn about the Japanese lifestyle, the foods they eat and crafts they make. The class can also learn about traditional festivals such as the Japanese New Year, Doll’s Day (Hina Matsuri) and Boy’s Day (Tango-No-Sekku).
- Multicultural Crafts: China Art Projects for Preschool Children
- China Art for Preschoolers
- The Empty Pot: China Lesson Plan and Art Project for Preschool
- Pre-K Lessons on Japan
- Let’s Visit Japan With Preschool Students
A Safari to Africa
Africa is a vast continent of varied regions and many cultures. The diversity of Africa and its people promotes a study of similarities and differences within a culture and an appreciation for cultural values. East Africa is the home of the largest number of big mammals in the world. The children can study and make craft projects to enjoy them. Traditional African music is passed from one person to the next. You will see examples in the article about African-American songs to pass down to your students.
A Trip to European Countries
The continent of Europe has a vast amount of countries. Each country is full of culture, each unique and rewarding. Children love to learn about other children and the countries in which they live. Fill the classroom with exciting activities that will encompass cultural celebrations, learning about the people, foods, songs, language, folk tales, games and crafts.
- Preschool Lesson on France: The Land and the People
- German Art Projects for Preschool Classes
- Greece Culture Art Activities for Preschool Students
- An Italian Theme for Preschool
- Lesson Plans on Italy for Preschool
- Preschool Multicultural Lessons: Strega Nona
Let’s Study About Native Americans
Young children learn that there are many different Native American groups in the United States and that each group has different customs. Their way of cooking, style of dress and social structure depend on the tribal group to which they belong. Children learn to use the terms “Sioux,” “Hopi,” and “Iroquois,” as easily as Native American. They learn that the Native American people live in all fifty states, some in cities and towns and others on reservations. Teach preschoolers how important Native Americans are in our country’s past, present and future.
Other Cultures to Study
Through these articles, it is possible to bring a part of the globe to your classroom. Who knows where you and your students may collectively venture.
Teachable Moments
Use your experience, training and imagination to think of other authentic ways to introduce young children to the magical diversity of our world’s population. I hope this guide on multicultural lesson plans for preschool has helped you with your planning. Enjoy your adventures!
References
- Allen, Judy; McNeill Earldene; Schmidt, Velma; Cultural Awareness for Children[Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992]The information offered in this article is based on the author’s personal experience as an early childhood teacher.
- Globe - Image by Yuri_B from Pixabay
- Asia Dance - Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
