Stereotyping Lesson Plan

Elizabeth Sky-McIlvainFreeport Middle School

betsy_sky-mcilvain@coconetme.org

http://www.leasttern.com/Wabanaki

The Stereotypes:

• Are old and still around• Are already ingrained in students by

grade 6• Are aggravated by omission from texts• Are easy to recognize and explain, but

difficult to get rid of• Are harmful and hurtful

That is what you need to teach.

How do I teach this?

• The Big Picture - the grabber• All-Cultures Chart - the “it’s all about me”• Stereotype Concept Definition - the goal• Classification - the frame• Examples, examples, examples• Crossing the comfort zone• Learn about NOW in Maine• Do something about it

The Big Picture

• Understanding “Indian” Stereotypes• Slide show• Invisible

“Hit them over the head with it.”

Connect feelings to fact.

Confront the consequences.

All-Cultures Chart

Key Principles

• Traditional knowledge continues to exist and have value

• Self-definition of cultures should be encouraged and respected

• Cultural distinctiveness should be accepted and celebrated

• Native cultures are not static or frozen in the past, but have always been dynamic and selectively adoptive

Stereotype of "Indian" Examples: Indians are or do…

Definition of stereotype… Non-Examples: Indians are or do...

So what?

Concept Definition

Alternate activity: What is “Indian”?

1 23

4

Classification Frame

• 4 categories

• Specific details for students to “tag” and remember

• Practice, practice, practice

Examples, examples, examples

• Textbooks• Primary sources - letters, speeches,

transcripts, cartoons - historical, current• Visual media - TV, film - old and new• Music, lyrics, rhymes• Books - novels, children’s books,

handbooks• Artifacts of culture - patterns, toys, kitsch,

place names, logos

Cross the Comfort Zone

• Three-folds Quickdraw

• Read aloud - Agent’s Report

• Response journals

• Body voting

• Debates

• The Four Cards/Slips

Confront the consequences.

Learn About NOW

• News

• Land Claims Settlement

• Web sites

• Interviews

• Video from MCSS conference

• Hands-on stereotypes

Do Something About It

• Letters

• Campaigns

• Keypals

• Telecommunications

• Digital discussions

• More…