Strands C and D: Self-Regulation and Well-Being; Belonging and Contributing · Me, My Feelings and My CommunityEveryone Is Different, Everyone Belongs
D20.1 D20.3 D21.1 D21.2 D21.3About 25 minutes
Learning goals- I can tell how people are the same and how they are different.
- I can show respect for people who are different from me.
- I can share a story or tradition from my family.
- I can tell when something is not fair, and I know what to do.
- I can use a strong voice to stand up for myself and others.
Words to know
different
Not the same.
respect
Treating people kindly, the way you want to be treated.
tradition
Something a family or a group does again and again, often on special days.
fair
Everyone gets a chance. Nobody is left out for who they are.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit
The First Peoples of the land we now call Canada. They have lived here for a very, very long time.
Same and different
Grown-up, read this part out loud.
Look at your hand. Now look at your grown-up's hand. What is the same? What is different?
Maybe one hand is bigger. Maybe the skin is a different colour. But both hands can wave, clap and give a hug!
People are different in lots of ways
- We look different: hair, skin, eyes, how tall we are.
- We speak different languages. Some children speak two or three!
- We eat different foods and celebrate different special days.
- Families are different. Some have one parent, some have two moms or two dads, some live with grandparents. Every family is a real family.
- Some people use a wheelchair, glasses or hearing aids, or talk with their hands.
And people are the same in lots of ways too. Everyone has feelings. Everyone wants to be included and treated kindly.
🧒🏻👧🏽🧒🏿👦🏼👧🏾🧑🦽
Children are all different, and every one of them belongs.Respect
Respect means treating everyone kindly, even if they are different from you.
- If a friend speaks another language, you can help them by pointing and showing.
- If a friend has a different idea in a game, you can listen and maybe try it.
- If someone eats a food you don't know, you can say "What's that called?" instead of "Yuck!"
Family traditions and celebrations
Every family has traditions. Some families celebrate Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year or other special days. Many families celebrate Canada Day on July 1 with the red and white flag and the maple leaf. 🍁
Some traditions are everyday ones too, like a bedtime song or a special Sunday breakfast.
The First Peoples of this land
First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples are the First Peoples of the land we now call Canada. They have lived here for a very, very long time, since long before other people came.
- There are many different First Nations, each with its own language and ways. In Ontario, some of them are the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and the Cree.
- The Métis are a people with their own history, culture and language.
- Many Inuit live in the Arctic, in the far North of Canada.
Today, First Nations, Métis and Inuit people live in cities, towns and communities all over Canada. They go to school, work, play hockey and do all kinds of things, and many keep their languages and traditions strong.
In the Anishinaabe language Anishinaabemowin (also called Ojibwe), "Boozhoo" is a way to say hello.
Special days
- September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many people wear orange to show that every child matters. 🧡
- June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to celebrate First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Fair and not fair
It is not fair to leave someone out or be mean to them because of how they look, how they talk, or who their family is.
What can you do?
- Use a strong voice: "Stop. That's not fair. Everyone can play."
- Include the person: "Come play with us!"
- Tell a grown-up.
You can stand up for yourself too. If someone does something you don't like, stand tall and say: "Stop. I don't like that."
Worked exampleLet's think: is it fair?
At recess, Jack says to Amira: "You can't play tag with us because you wear a hijab." Is that fair? What can we do?
- Think: Is Jack leaving Amira out because of who she is? Yes. Wearing a hijab has nothing to do with playing tag.
- Decide: That is not fair.
- Speak up: A friend can say, "That's not fair. Everyone can play."
- Include: "Amira, come play with us!"
- Get help: If it keeps happening, tell the recess teacher.
It is not fair. Everybody belongs. We can speak up, include, and get help from a grown-up.
Just for funWhat has hands but can’t wave, clap or give a hug?
A clock! ⏰ Good thing your hands can do all three.
Hands-on activityOur family tradition
You need: paper and crayons, and maybe a family photo.
- Grown-up, tell your child about a tradition in your family. It might be a holiday, a special food, a song, a story, or a game from when you were little.
- Child: draw a picture of the tradition.
- Tell the story of your picture to someone else in the family.
Extra: Learn to say hello in another language. Try "Boozhoo" (Anishinaabemowin) or "Bonjour" (French). Does anyone in your family speak another language?
Your turn
1Look at your hand and your grown-up's hand. Tell one way they are the same and one way they are different.
Answers will vary. Same: both have 5 fingers. Different: size, skin colour, nail length. Look for one same and one different.
2A new girl in your class speaks Spanish and not much English. How could you help her?
Point and show her things, smile, invite her to play, and maybe learn a word in Spanish. Being kind helps her feel she belongs.
3Tell me about a special day or tradition in your family.
Answers will vary. Examples: a holiday, a birthday party, a family trip, a special food. Look for a few details.
4Who are the First Peoples of the land we now call Canada?
First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
5Someone says, "You can't play because you're a boy." Is that fair?
No, it is not fair. Being a boy or a girl doesn't matter for playing. Everyone can play.
6Show me a strong voice saying, "Stop. I don't like that."
Look for: standing tall, looking at the person, and a clear, strong voice (not yelling, not whispering).
More practice: warm-up
1Does every person have feelings?
Yes. Everyone has feelings, so we are kind to everyone.
2🍁 What is this leaf? You can find it on Canada's flag.
3What colour do many people wear on September 30 to show every child matters?
4Say hello in Anishinaabemowin.
5Can a family have two moms, or live with a grandma?
Yes. Families come in many kinds, and every family is a real family.
More practice: on your own
1Your friend wants to build a castle. You want to build a rocket. How can you show respect for your friend's idea?
Listen to the idea, then take turns choosing, or build a castle with a rocket! Respecting other ideas means trying them sometimes.
2At lunch, a friend has a food you have never seen. What is a kind thing to say?
"What's that called?" or "It smells good!" Saying "Yuck" can hurt feelings.
3Do First Nations, Métis and Inuit people still live in Canada today?
Yes. They live in cities, towns and communities all over Canada today, and many keep their languages and traditions strong.
4Someone keeps poking you. Say what you can do.
Say in a strong voice, "Stop. I don't like that." Move away. If it keeps happening, tell a grown-up.
5Point to the fair one:
🅰️ "Everyone can play!"
🅱️ "Only kids with blue shirts can play."
🅰️ "Everyone can play!" Leaving people out because of their shirt is not fair.
Challenge
1Two children are laughing at a boy because he uses a wheelchair. What could you do?
Say "That's not kind. Stop.", include the boy ("Do you want to play with me?"), and tell a grown-up. Using a wheelchair is just a different way to get around.
2Why is it good that people in our class are different from each other?
We can learn new things from each other: new games, foods, words and stories. It makes our class more interesting.
3Tell a short story about a celebration, either from your family or one you learned about.
Answers will vary. Look for a beginning ("First we..."), a middle and an end, and some details like food, music or who was there.
Quiz
2. Who are the First Peoples of the land we now call Canada?
3. Someone says, "You can't play, you talk funny." What can you say?
4. Which one is a family tradition?
5. 🧡 People wear orange on September 30 to show that...
Big idea: Children learn to notice, name and respect differences, share their own heritage, find common ground, and recognize unfair treatment (D20.1, D20.3 and D21). The next lesson, Standing Up for Myself and Others, goes deeper into fairness, standing up, and discrimination. Learning about First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples starts with simple, accurate, present-day ideas: they are the First Peoples of this land, they are many distinct nations and peoples, and they live everywhere in Canada today.
How to help at home:
- Talk openly and positively about differences your child notices. "Yes, her skin is darker than yours. Isn't it great that people come in so many colours?" Silence can teach children that differences are bad.
- Share your own family's stories, foods and traditions, and learn about others' (library books are a great start).
- Learn whose traditional territory you live on (many Ontario school boards and municipalities share this in their land acknowledgements) and talk about it simply.
- Practise the strong-voice script: "Stop. I don't like that." Then "I'll tell a grown-up."
About September 30: Young children can understand "We wear orange to show every child matters." Older children will learn more about residential schools in later grades. Answer questions honestly and simply, at your child's level.
Common difficulties:
- Blurting comments about how people look. This is normal curiosity. Calmly talk about it later; avoid shaming.
- Thinks Indigenous people lived only "long ago". Gently correct: "First Nations, Métis and Inuit people live all over Canada today, maybe even in our neighbourhood."
- Afraid to speak up. Role-play with toys until the words feel easy. Make "tell a grown-up" a sure, safe step.