Today on Human Rights Day, we acknowledge the difference that both individuals and collectives can make in creating more equitable environments for everyone in Our VSB. 

“Amazing, diverse people walk among us, and they can help shape understanding and empathy toward diverse cultures and identities.” That was the inspiration for a new video series elementary teaching resource launched In April this year.

Videos feature the stories of six people who share their lived experiences as individuals with different backgrounds, cultural experiences and intersectional identities.

The videos’ launch inspired Trafalgar elementary school to host a diversity day. Similar to a sports day where the entire school community is involved, Trafalgar’s diversity day was all about everyone coming together to share their own backgrounds and what made them who they were.

Students were grouped across all grade levels to watch the videos, holding space for questions and discussion and completing different activities. Grade 7 students led many activities around the videos, mentoring their younger schoolmates.

According to Joel Fleming, a teacher that helped to organize the event, all educators can play a part in teaching students about inclusivity. “It’s always better to try than not do anything at all. It’s not as hard and big and scary as we have made it out,” says Fleming.

Fleming gave the example of Diwali. “Even if I don’t personally celebrate it, it’s good to talk about it in class because for students who do, they’re going to remember their teacher acknowledging something special about them,” he said. “Or take the example of Lunar New Year, even if you don’t celebrate it, it’s still something that makes our communities better.”

Fleming finds promoting that feeling of inclusion powerful. Thinking back to Trafalgar’s diversity day, Fleming recalls an exercise where students were given a worksheet with eight pizza slices, each representing a slice of a student’s identity. Students wrote or drew something unique about themselves in each of the slices.

For some of the younger students, the Grade 7 leaders helped prompt them with questions such as, ‘What’s your favourite food?’ or ‘What activities do you enjoy?’. Students were excited to make connections through shared activities and interests.

One moment that stood out to Fleming was when a student shared about having two dads. “That sparked a vibrant discussion about how not all families look the same,” says Fleming.

“When I was in school, there was no diversity and inclusion talk,” says Fleming. “I’m so happy that students no longer have to go through school with a feeling of isolation about who they are.”

This video series is available for every VSB elementary teacher to promote a love of learning and community. The videos are accompanied by classroom activities such as the intersectional pizza. While the activities are aimed at elementary-aged students, the videos can also be used and viewed by secondary educators and students. 

“For secondary teachers, I could see them using the videos to inspire discussion and activities. Maybe older students could create comic books with stories that showcase diversity.” muses Fleming. “They can use the videos to inspire stories.”

Fleming is teaching a kindergarten class this year at False Creek Elementary and says laying the foundation for inclusion can start in simple ways. “Read a story or watch a video and see what kind of questions come out it,” says Fleming. “Students are eager to learn and make connections, but most of the time they just want to be seen.”