December Monthly Objectives: Social Justice and Inclusivity

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This quote from Nelson Mandela resonates as students learn ideas about social justice early, especially in schools. Classrooms remain one of the primary places students share and hear new ideas. They pick up concepts that help them better understand how a fair and just world works. Teachers help students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and self-reflection skills necessary to foster a better society.

This December, use myBlueprint’s All About Me and Education Planner platforms to help students understand the diverse nature of the world and their place in it. Scroll down to the bottom of today’s blog post to learn more!

K-6 Newsletter (or K-7)

Title: Social Justice and Inclusivity

As the year comes to an end, let’s enable conversations around Social Justice and Inclusivity. Students can share their values, family traditions, culture, background, community, and more.

Use the resources below to weave Social Justice and Inclusivity into class discussions and students' use of All About Me:

1. Provide opportunities for your students to share about themselves by prompting them to add boxes to their All About Me portfolio (i.e. background, family, values boxes). Have students add personal artifacts, videos, pictures, and audio recordings to their All About Me Portfolio to encourage storytelling about diversity and to learn what makes them unique.
2. Strengthen your classroom community through learning experiences that draw upon the diverse backgrounds of your students. Use the My Family and Our Traditions Lesson Plan to celebrate each student’s uniqueness, and share that with the classroom!
3. The Roles in our Community Lesson Plan will encourage students to examine various roles, relationships and responsibilities, how and why these may change, and how they are connected to one’s identity and sense of self.
4. It only takes one person to make a difference! Use the Becoming Responsible Citizens lesson to encourage students to look around their community and find examples of social justice issues and prompt classroom discussions on ways to promote justice for all.
5. Encourage students to reflect on questions, such as: What is a change they would like to see in their lifetime? How can they feel more inspired to act? Why do Social Justice and Inclusivity matter? What excites them about becoming a Social Justice advocate? Review Feedback Ideas and Tips for Educators for best practices to encourage and empower students throughout the reflective process through timely, positive, and constructive feedback.

7–12 Newsletter (or 8–12)

Title: Social Justice and Inclusivity

Teaching Social Justice & Inclusivity provides hope to build a society where individuals have equal access to resources and receive equitable treatment regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality, income level, or disability.

Use the resources below to weave Social Justice and Inclusivity in class discussions using Education Planner:

1. Provide opportunities for your students to share about themselves by prompting them to create or add to a Who Am I? Portfolio. Have students add multimedia artifacts to their portfolio to encourage highlighting their family background, cultural beliefs, and values. Through sharing their portfolio with the class, students can promote their stories of diversity and what makes each person unique.
2. Have classroom discussions that help students critically engage with real-world issues that affect them. The Anti-Racism and Global Citizenship Lesson Plan will teach students to recognize racism, intervene safely, and become allies.
3. Include diverse experiences and backgrounds in classroom materials and find examples with people close to your student’s age. Review 6 Young Activists Changing the World as an example.
4. Encourage students to reflect on questions such as: What is a change they would like to see in their lifetime? How can they feel more inspired to act? Why do Social Justice and Inclusivity matter? What excites them about becoming a Social Justice advocate? Review Feedback Ideas and Tips for Educators for best practices to encourage and empower students throughout the reflective process through timely, positive, and constructive feedback.

Implementation Ideas for DECEMBER!

1. As the New Year approaches, put a wrap on 2022 by having students set S.M.A.R.T goals for the year ahead. Invite students to add New Year’s Resolutions, create academic learning goals, and describe how they can give back to their community.
2. Enter for a chance to win $1,100 in total prize value! The Education Planner Scholarship Portfolio Contest for Grades 11–12 lets your students Stand Above the Crowd.

Check out the Contest Page for more details and click here to enter. The Contest runs from January 9-February 17, 2023 — get an early start!

3. New winter webinar offerings have been scheduled: Click here to sign up for a live webinar session.

Exciting new offering — Supporting First Nations, Metis & Inuit Students with their Future Pathway Possibilities. Webinar in partnership with ONECA (Ontario Native Education Counselling Association — www.oneca.com). This webinar will be on Tuesday, January 17 at 3:30 pm EDT. Register today!

4. Help students mindfully build essential competencies — December’s focus is Active Listening. Active listening is also important to promote Social Justice & Inclusivity in the classroom. Have students watch S1E12 of Competencies without a Classroom and engage them in a discussion using the accompanying slide deck, teacher guide, and student handout.

Join the myBlueprint Community to stay up to date with all things myBlueprint, and interact with educators across Canada sharing implementation ideas and success stories.

Want to learn more? Email support@myBlueprint.ca, sign up for a drop-in webinar or watch our bite-sized video tutorials.