Week 5: Global Belonging & Community
Weekly Focus
Children explore how we belong to the global community and celebrate diversity around the world.
Week at a Glance
Daily themes for Week 5
- MondayGlobal Families
- TuesdayWorld Languages
- WednesdayCultural Celebrations
- ThursdayGlobal Friends
- FridayUnity in Diversity
Teacher Tip
Learning Objectives
- Understand that we belong to a global community
- Appreciate cultural diversity and traditions
- Develop empathy for people from different backgrounds
- Recognize similarities across cultures
- Celebrate unity in diversity
Key Vocabulary
Materials Needed
- World map and globe
- Cultural artifacts and materials
- Diverse books and stories
- Art supplies for cultural crafts
- Music from different cultures
- Photos of diverse families
- Chart paper and markers
- Materials for unity projects
Daily Plans
Monday
We Belong to Many Groups
Focus Question
How do we show that everyone belongs in our classroom?
Suggested Books
"All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold
Activities
- 1
Morning Circle: Introduce the concept that people belong to many different groups
Discuss families, friends, school, and community groups
- 2
Literacy Focus: Read 'All Are Welcome' by Alexandra Penfold
Discuss the message of inclusion and belonging
- 3
Math Focus: Sort and classify groups we belong to
Create Venn diagrams showing overlapping groups
- 4
Afternoon Activity: Create 'Groups I Belong To' web diagrams
Students draw themselves in the center with connected groups
Teacher Tip
Materials
Featured Activities
Global Family Tree
Create a collaborative family tree showing the diverse backgrounds of all students in the class, celebrating the global connections within the classroom community.
Materials Needed:
Around the World Music Journey
Take a musical journey around the world, learning simple songs and dances from different cultures while exploring how music brings people together globally.
Materials Needed:
Unity Quilt Project
Each child creates a unique quilt square representing their heritage or interests, then combine all squares into a classroom unity quilt celebrating diversity.
Materials Needed:
Global Pen Pal Letters
Write and illustrate letters to imaginary pen pals from different countries, learning about global communication and cultural exchange.
Materials Needed:
Resources
Books
- "All Are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold
- "We're All Wonders" by R.J. Palacio
- "The Colors of Us" by Karen Katz
- "Strictly No Elephants" by Lisa Mantchev
- "You Belong Here" by M.H. Clark
- "Children Around the World" by Donata Montanari
Printables
- Global Family Tree Template
- Unity Quilt Square Patterns
- Pen Pal Letter Templates
- Cultural Celebration Cards
- Diversity Sorting Activities
- Global Community Coloring Pages
Home Connection
- Family Heritage Interview Questions
- Cultural Sharing Invitation
- Global Community Discussion Starters
- Unity Project Ideas for Families
- Multicultural Recipe Collection
- Global Belonging Reflection Sheet
Additional Resources
Cultural Celebration Videos
Short videos showing different cultural celebrations around the world
Global Music Collection
Traditional music from different cultures and countries
Diversity Activities
Hands-on activities to explore cultural diversity
Unit Reflection
As we conclude our Belonging unit, take time to reflect on how your students have grown in their understanding of belonging, inclusion, and community. Consider the following questions:
- • How have students demonstrated empathy and inclusion?
- • What strategies have been most effective in building community?
- • How can we continue to reinforce these concepts throughout the year?
- • What cultural connections have students made?
Celebrate the progress made and continue to nurture the sense of belonging in your classroom community.