DIVERSITY ACTIVITY PLAN & CHECKLIST

Objective
Before starting and preforming the holiday concert music, students will research their choice of
country, culture, or religion and learn about their Holiday celebrations. This will connect with
the piece we are playing in the concert: “Arbolito de Navidad”. This piece originated in Cuba, so
a student will provide extra insight to the culture and significance behind it. This will allow all
students to feel like they are connected to the piece, therefore they will play the piece in the
style it was written for. It also allows students to feel comfortable speaking about their holiday
traditions. Every family is different, so this project provides students the opportunity to learn
about a tradition they were not aware of.

Materials Needed to Accomplish Objective

• Index card and marker
• Computer, iPad, smartphone
• Presentation software: PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.

Intro to the Activity

T: “Good morning Everyone! Before we get started on the holiday concert music, we are
going to dive into what the holidays look like for you guys. On the table, you will see
some index cards and markers. Everyone needs to grab one index card and one
marker. With your materials, write or draw a picture of your favorite holiday or tradition
you have throughout the year.”

While students are grabbing their materials, music will be playing over the speakers.
The music will be representative of other culture’s celebratory music from around the
world. This exposes students’ ears to new music, and introduces them to other music
outside of western notation.

Procedures for the Activity

T: “Go around the room and find three people. Talk to them about what is on your card.
Explain what your celebration is and its significance to you.” (Ss Discuss) “Great! What
is something new you learned about one person in your groups? What did you find
interesting about their tradition?”
T: “on that note, lets get into our activity for the day! As yall know, we are having a
winter concert in a few months. It is “Holiday” themed. Before we get into the music, lets
do a fun group project to research different holidays, cultures, or celebratory traditions
form around the world. Use the next hour to find a country, holiday, or culture that
sparks your interest. Create a short PowerPoint, prezi, or other form of demonstration
with your groups to give a quick synopsis of your chosen topic. If you or a member of
your group does not already have one, grab an electronic device from the front of the
room. Remember to have fun! I will have an example PowerPoint being shown on the
projector screen for a reference. Tomorrow we will present. If you have any questions,
please let me know!”

Ss disperse and grab their computers. They will do their research for the next hour.

*the Next Day*

T: “Good morning class! Welcome back! Go ahead and grab your computer and find
your groups. You will get the first 20 minutes to wrap up research and review your
presentation. After that time, presentations will begin.”

Closure
T: “Alright, it is time to present!”
Ss present their material in groups. All of the groups are in detail and they brought many
traditions to the table.

After presentations, T will lead a wrap up discussion with the class about the material.

T: “Wonderful research everyone! What is something new you learned?”

Ss discuss throughout the class
T: “What is something that stood out to you?”
Ss discuss
T: “How do these compare to your traditions and celebrations?”

Self-evaluation of the activity

This activity is strong in the material, but the issues that might occur are 1) timing of
research, and 2) presentation length. There may or may not be enough time in two
class periods to complete the assignment. If there is too little time, that is okay because
it allows for longer instruction and information to be given on the Cuban piece we will be
preforming on the concert. If the project takes longer than intended, I will adjust
rehearsal time accordingly. Some students might get off track or misunderstand the
assignment. If that is the case, I will walk around the classroom to make sure all
questions are answered and there is no source of miscommunication.

Thinking toward the future

This is inclusive for students of many different backgrounds. This gives students the
opportunity to discuss their culture in a safe setting. We are here in the classroom to
learn and grow as humans, not tear each other down. This activity will be put into
practice and adjusted as needed throughout my time as an educator.
 Classroom Activity for Teaching in a Multicultural Society
Checklist

Content Evidence Missing Included

Objective
Materials
Introduction
Procedures
Closure
Evaluation of the
Learner
Self-Evaluation
Thinking to the future