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Eighth Graders Take Center Stage
Of Many Colors
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October 27 - November 3
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Of Many Colors
The photo-text exhibit “Of Many Colors” featuring families of adoption, mixed heritage and multiracial backgrounds graced the halls of the Day School for two weeks in October. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade visited the exhibit, engaging in activities that encouraged thoughtful reflection about families, diversity, and identity.
In kindergarten, students made observations about the families featured in the exhibit and created a book inspired by their observations. Their book, “A Family Can Be . . .” showcases kindergarten art and reflections on the many ways to be a family. One kindergartner wrote, “A family can be two dads and two boys. They can be stuck together by love.” Kindergartners obviously get it!
In seventh grade, Ms. Hersh designed a lesson that combined reading the exhibit, self-reflection, and creativity. Students studied the photos and essays, and jotted down notes about images and phrases that stood out. They then analyzed a family photo of their own in a similar fashion. The final result was a two-stanza poem, celebrating discoveries and realizations about families gleaned through the close reading of the photos as text--complete with setting, characters, and conflicts. Click here to read several of the student poems.
After reading and discussing books such as More Than Half Less Than Whole, The Two Mrs. Gibsons and How My Parents Learned to Eat, third graders visited the exhibit. Students were asked to read the text accompanying the photos and write about situations that captured their attention. |
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Following are some of their responses:
One family caught my attention. The Mom said, “my kids are multiracial, they are able to be close to black people and white people.” If you are multiracial you are many races so you could be black, white, or anything! ~Clare
There was a family with all boys that caught my attention because I have never seen a family with just boys. ~Claudia
The exhibit was really cool and really different to me because my family is pretty much all American. ~ Harry
I really agree with the family that said, “For our family race doesn’t take on so much importance … the truly important aspects of life are kindness, humanity, respect and love.” ~ Lindsey
One girl said, “I wish I weren’t brown.” I think that was a mean thing for her to say about herself. She said it because people teased her and she wished she were like them. People shouldn’t tease others. ~Spencer
I like the family with the daughter who was adopted from China because I was adopted too! ~Sophia
The Rhodes family said, “If you see a couple – either gay or straight- there is a reason for it.” What they are telling you is love spreads no matter what.
~Will
Discussions around diversity can be difficult and can bring up challenging feelings for students and adults alike. These discussions are, however, essential to bringing awareness about ourselves and others. Avoiding difficult discussions teaches students to circumvent new ways of thinking and growing. Resources such as “Of Many Colors” open new paths for expanded dialogue and help us focus our conversations.
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