Prejudice Reduction Workshop Curriculum

The Prejudice Reduction Workshops are a series of 13 age-appropriate programs that focus on increasing knowledge, building empathy and self esteem, and developing critical thinking skills for K-12 students. Research has shown these four steps to be critical factors in reducing prejudice among children.

Kindergarten: Same & Different
This workshop introduces students to the concept that a person can be the same as them and different from them at the same time. Activities focus on some of the things that make people the same or different and demonstrate that differences can be wonderful and exciting.

Grade 1: We Are All Unique!
This workshop focuses on the concept of individual uniqueness. Activities concentrate on the uniqueness of the students and the diversity in their classroom.

Grade 2: Disability Awareness
This workshop aims to show students that people with disabilities may be different on the outside, but they are the same on the inside. It also gives students a chance to experience some of the challenges that people with disabilities may face.

Grade 3: My Banana
Students get to know an individual banana in an activity illustrating that once you get to know someone, they are no longer just “one of the bunch.” All people are unique individuals. Knowledge and social contact break down stereotypes.

Grade 4: A Class Divided
Students watch a video about Jane Elliot's Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes experiment, in which she divided her class by eye color and allowed them to experience prejudice and discrimination from both sides. An activity with an apple shows how teasing and discrimination bruise the inside even when they don't show on the outside. Students are encouraged to think of ways to counteract this form of discrimination.

Grade 5: True Colors
In an experiment filmed by Prime Time, a black man and a white man go to St. Louis to look for an apartment, apply for a job, and shop for a car. The different responses they receive are truly eye opening as students discover that racism is still a reality in modern America.

Grade 6: Living Together: A History of Prejudice in Olmsted County
Students view and discuss a video on local history designed to stimulate discussion about prejudice, discrimination, and racism, as well as how to make the future different from the past.

Grade 6 (Alternate): It's All About Respect
For schools outside Olmsted County, we offer a lesson exploring the basics of respect. How do you respect yourself? How do you respect others? How do we recognize disrespect?

Grade 7: First Impressions
Students watch a video of local students talking about their experiences of being excluded, and role play inclusion and exclusion with a card game.

Grade 8: Sizism and Body Image
The object of this workshop is to open students' eyes to the profound prejudice and discrimination against those who do not measure up to our society's "ideal" body size.

Grade 9: Classism
Students role play the way we make judgments about people based on our perception of their socioeconomic status and discuss how to overcome stereotypes we have about class.

Grade 10: Understanding Gender Issues and Sexual Orientation
Students discuss the limiting effects of sexism and homophobia and participate in an activity that demonstrates the power of words to keep people "in the box."

Grade 11: Religious Freedom: Liberty for Diversity
Students discuss the challenges of extending religious freedom to religious minorities and role play the Supreme Court deciding actual cases relating to religious freedom.

Grade 12: Recognizing Power
Students participate in activities and discussions about segments of society that have access to power and those that have less power.

Interested in licensing the Prejudice Reduction Workshop curriculum for your school district? Learn more

Interested in becoming a Prejudice Reduction Workshop Facilitator? Fill out an application or call Education Director Kelly Nguyen for more information: 507-282-9951.

Teachers talk about the PRW curriculum:

2nd grade

Your lesson was just perfect and very appropriate for my second graders. The presenters were prepared, comfortable, and they encouraged my students to think and participate—get involved in the lesson! Excellent!

4th grade

These discussions are timely and needed. Teasing is something fourth graders are concerned about.

6th grade

I thought the presentation did a good job of making diversity personal to the students by using Rochester/ Olmsted County information.

Kindergarten

You did a good job making connections between all the activities. This really helped the children better understand the concept of diversity.

2nd grade

There was a nice mixture of discussion, video, and activities. There is a continual need for diversity education for all. This is a wonderful program for the students in our district. Thank you!

4th grade

The video was great! It opened a lot of eyes (mine included!) Information presented was relevant and pertinent to this grade level. Great job!

5th grade

The video was powerful and the discussion was excellent. I thought the questions that were asked about the video were well done that made the kids think.

6th grade

Their presentation was an excellent reinforcement of what we have been teaching in our curriculum.

12th grade student

I thought that the presentation went really well. It was very understandable and they made it so that it was easy to pay attention. It really made me think about the different groups of people that have power over others, and how we have power too and we shouldn’t misuse it. I now know that it is important to notice different misuses of power and speak out about them so it doesn’t happen any more.

1130 1/2 7th St NW, Suite 204 , Rochester, MN 55901 · Tel: 507.282.9951 · Fax: 507.282.9964 · info@diversitycouncil.org

Diversity...It's all about respect.