Teaching Diversity to K-5 Graders

I don't know of any resources that you can use other then "Teaching Tolerance" which is a FANTASTIC program offered by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They have classroom kits by age level and there are various ideas to teach. (http://www.tolerance.org/activity/everyone-s-helper) My mom teaches at a multi cultural school and she always assigns her first family project of the year around this time. It is always a family essay on their beliefs, customs and unique traditions. Usually a one page essay that can be dressed up with pictures and drawings or small things that show the families belief. The whole school does this project and then they have an open house where the parents and children give a short presentation in the classroom on their customs and usually bring a dish they eat at home. It all ends with a big pot luck dinner where all the classes meet in the cafeteria and share the food. It is an awesome night and I actually took my son to one a few years back because in his public school this would never happen. He learned about so many different cultures and beliefs in just one classroom. I think it's wonderful that you want to do this and wish you the best of luck!

You already have such a great source to pull from - use your community. Maybe each week/month or however often you meet, a different family can talk about their culture. Intolerance is about ignorance. I think that if kids are given the opportunity to interet directly with people from other backgrounds and ask the questions that they really want to know, it is easier to foster acceptance.
Good Luck,
C.

At our school, they use "Character Counts". It incorporates Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

Here's their website:

http://charactercounts.org/

How about organizing a cultural day event. My DD's school did this. They set up tables, each representing a different country and had craft associated with that country to make. Each child starts at the embassy table. His picture is taken and printed and is then attached to a mock passport. He proceeds to the designated countries and gets a country stamp each time he finishes a craft.

Samples of crafts
USA- dream catchers (punch holes on paper plates to weave yarn through add feathers and beads)

Mexico- maracas (paper plate fold in half , fill with beans, markers of decorating, stapler/tape)

Japan -origami

There's a lovely multi-cultural children's magazine called SKIPPING STONES that might employ to enrich whatever program you choose. One of our local schools uses this magazine not only to encourage student creativity, but increase awareness of other people's traditions, dress, and food. Children from all around the world are the contributors of most of the essays, poetry, art and photography. Most contributions seem to come from upper-elementary through high school kids.

Here's their website: www.skippingstones.org