Lessons - Special Olympics

You don’t have
to be like me to
be my friend.
Activity 1:
We’re All Alike…We’re All Different
Materials Needed:
• Picture books: Friends by Rob Lewis (grades K-1) or Chester’s Way by Kevin
Henkes (grades 1-2)
• Reproducible 1.1, Questions for shared writing activity
• Chart paper and markers
• Index cards or other small pieces of paper (one per student)
• Bag or other container to hold cards
• Large paper and markers (for Reflection activity)
Background:
• Choose one of the picture books about diversity (with the theme “You don’t
have to be like me to be my friend”) that best suits your students’ age and
interests. Review the story ahead of time so that you can read it fluently
and with expression. Flag any pages where you wish to pause your reading
to reinforce students’ connections to the story by providing think-aloud
comments or questions.
• Create and write down 8-10 “Step forward” instructions for the Step Right
Up game in Part One, Steps 1-5. The categories should include a mixture of
internal and external characteristics (e.g., Step right up if you are wearing
sneakers today, …if you have a brother, …if you like sausage on your pizza,
…if you have ever played soccer).
• Write down questions (using Reproducible 1.1 or your own questions) on
small cards for the group writing activity in Part Two, Steps 2-5. Place them in
a bag or other container for students to draw from.
Important Terms:
• alike, different, individual, same, unique
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