Equality and Diversity - Building a Culture of ... - Equality Authority

Lessons 13 – 14
Equality in our School?
A Detective Hunt
Activity one
Note: this activity
requires a double class
period – or would need to
be split over two classes
Learning Intentions
Students will explore the
various layers of school life and
reflect on how inclusive the
school is
Students will begin to think
about ways in which the school
could become more inclusive
Resources
Equality in our School Cards on
pages 49 –50, copied on to card
and cut up
6 sheets of flip chart paper
Blu-tac
6 sets of markers – each set in a
different colour and with 4-5 in
each set
Additional information or props
for students – see opposite
under Preparation
What’s the Equality Temperature of Our School?
Explain to the students that equality in schools can be
demonstrated at many levels of the school- some easily
identifiable and other in ways that are less obvious. They are
going to look at various areas of school life and investigate to
what extent diversity is valued and respected, and to what
extent the school could be described as inclusive and equal.
Diversity in Our School – Areas to be Looked at
1. Students – Admission and fair treatment
2. Student Council – Participation
3. Visible signs of the extent to which diversity is respected
in our school
4. The Classroom 1 – Respect in the classroom, Methodologies.
5. The Classroom 2 – Textbooks and materials, Assessment
6. Choices for Students – Subject choice, Extra-curricular
activities
Preparation
Copy and cut out the Equality in our School Cards on pages
49 – 50. Collect together the ‘props’ that you will need for
the areas above and put them into 6 envelopes. (Most of the
suggested materials are normally available from the school
website.) Have one sheet of flip chart ready for each group
and stick the appropriate Equality in our School Card in the
middle of the sheets.
Suggested props are:
1. Students: Admissions policy, code of behaviour, school
rules, photos or description of uniform...
2. Student Council: Copy of Student Council constitution, list
of current members, photos of Student Council activities...
3. Visible signs of diversity being valued: Photos of the
school entrance and entrance hall, of school displays,
classrooms, corridors, school yearbook, school brochure....
4. Classroom 1: copy of class agreement or ground rules,
photos of classrooms with typical layout used in
the school…
SECTION 3 EXPLORING EQUALITY 47