We are different, we are the same: PAK students learn of diversity and unity

Pakanasink Elementary School celebrated No Name-Calling Week from Jan. 18-21 as part of its No Place for Hate program. The theme for the week was diversity and unity.

Librarian Aubrey Zamonsky selected books for the different grades focusing on what makes us the same and what makes us different. (See the links at the bottom of this story.)

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a mask and a blue and gold shirt stands in front of a screen in front of a group of fifth grade students.

Fifth-grade students watched and listened to author Jacqueline Woodson read her book “The Day You Begin” on YouTube. The students then discussed how they measure themselves up against others, like the characters in the book did. It’s very easy to pick out our differences – hair color, clothes we wear, height – but it takes a little more thought to come up with our similarities. These thoughtful students certainly did! They talked of our need for food and water, love, equality and fairness, and the desire to belong.

A group of four fifth-grade students sit around a table. A woman with short blonde hair leans over the table talking to them. All are wearing masks.

After the discussion, each student received a puzzle piece where they drew and wrote about their own uniqueness. The puzzle pieces were going to be joined together to make one big mosaic of the class showing how they all fit together.

A girl with long dark brads holds up a piece of white paper that is folded. She has scissors in her hand and is wearing a mask.

In art, Alivia Torres’ classes created unique snowflakes by cutting them out from paper. Real snowflakes get their shape as they fall to the ground, touching objects on the journey which ultimately changes their shape. The similarity wasn’t lost on the fourth-graders in the class as they know we are shaped by our life experiences. Life shapes us all!

Two fourth-grade girls sit at a table. They are both wearing light blue masks and are holding up paper that is cut into snowflakes. They are smiling behind their masks.