We’re different, but oh so alike.  Help your kiddos acknowledge the differences, but more importantly recognize and explore the similarities between them and their classmates.

Our Topic: Alike and not alike
Brainstorm and generate a list to aid in their written responses. For example, chart the following categories and details to get them thinking: especially noticing that the categories are the same. 🙂
Differences: eye color, hair color, height, shoes, food preferences, toys, games, movies
Similarities: eye color, hair color, height, shoes, food preferences, toys, games, movies

Thinking it through on their own: Depending on your class of kiddos, you may let them choose a partner to focus on. Although for me, somehow letting them choose, always led to a few kiddos standing alone not being picked (shades of my own school days, bad memories), so I “pull sticks” (with their names on them) and let the partnerships just happen. I’ve found the writing is better if the kiddos have had “talking time” to get their thoughts straight prior to writing independently. In addition to the anchor chart, I provide sentence stems to move the conversations in the right directions:  I have ____. I do not have ____. We like ____. We do not like ___. What is your favorite ___? Do you like ___? I like ____. I do not like ____.  Yes, you’ll need to monitor the conversations to reinforce the use of the sentence stems, but I found reinforcing the usage beneficial. Also, I found establishing the routine of using sentence stems early and often kept my kiddos on track.

Drawing/Writing paper: There are 2 “portrait boxes” to draw themselves and their partner. Then in the writing space, they will write about how they are similar to their partner.

This activity has always provided many “aw ha” moments and lively discussion. Head to the store to get your copy.
Here are a couple of my favorite Martin L. King, Jr. books that I would read aloud and have available for the kiddos to read during our “Choosing Time” (free choice).
         

Moore, Johnny Ray: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Farris, Christine King:My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Rappaport, Doreen: Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Until next time, happy similarities!