Learning Safari: A Rainbow of Us

Recommended for Grades: Preschool, K, 1, 2
Discuss multiculturalism and diversity in a nonthreatening manner that’s easy for preschoolers to relate to—food! Our story for the day will compare children’s skin colors to caramel, peaches and espresso to prepare us for making a self-portrait of our own.

Iowa Core |   Pre-visit Materials |   Vocabulary |   Post-visit Activity |   Resources

Iowa Core Essential Concepts

  • Reading: Read for a variety of purposes and across content areas.
  • Reading: Use a variety of strategies and skills to comprehend and interpret fiction.
  • Reading: Use a variety of strategies to develop and expand reading vocabulary.
  • Listening: Listen for information and understanding
  • Listening: Listen for interpretation, analysis, and evaluation
  • Behavioral Sciences: Understand all people have individual traits.
  • Behavioral Sciences: Understand the relationship of the individual to the components of society and culture
  • Geography: Understand how geographic and human characteristics create culture and define regions
  • History: Understand individuals and groups within a society my promote change of the status quo

Pre-visit Materials.

  • What does “fair” mean? Describe some common scenarios in which students can tell you if what happened is fair or not. Examples: Gavin took all of the blocks and won’t let Liam play with them. Is this fair or unfair? Bella always shares her pop tarts with Allyson, but won’t give them to anyone else. Is this fair or unfair?
  • Where is Africa? Using a globe or map, show students where Africa is located compared to the United States.

Vocabulary

  • Diversity
  • Culture

Post-visit Activities

  • Borrow the museum’s free “Africa” Traveling Trunk
  • Borrow the museum’s free “Egypt” Traveling Trunk

Suggested Resources

Books
Ms. Fizzle’s Adventures: Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole
The Star-Bearer: A Creation Myth From Ancient Egypt by Carolyn Otto

Internet
PBS Ancient Egypt: http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/
African Children’s Games: http://www.ibike.org/library/africakids.htm