Anti-Bias Photo Doll Activity

Anti-Bias Activity By Ildiko Novak

My activity centers around the “People Paper Dolls” on page 213 in the Roots and Wings book by Stacey York.  I can use this activity with ages 3-8 because “during this time children acquire a self-concept, build their self-esteem, learn how to make friends become aware of family and community, learn to use words to express themselves, have strong feelings and fears, use magical (and often distorted) thinking, and tend to believe in everything they see and hear”.(York pg129)   I love this activity because I can expand upon the basic concept with the younger age group and move toward unlimited options with the older group’s age and interest.  The base concept of compare and contrast the physical differences of each other is thoroughly discussed.  Using these “other” selves we go on to discuss how we play and act with and toward one another. Then by introducing themes about the environment in which they live vs. other people in other places we start to expand the view that other people in other places exist.  Where people live and what they live in is compared and contrasted.  How people dress as dictated by their culture and environments is also introduced with a variety of clothing that can be put on their photo dolls. As the year progresses, other elements will be introduced to reinforce the themes that are introduced.  Foods, spices, music, fabric, flora, building material are a few of the more tangible items that will be introduced and will build upon the regions of the world.  I expect to discover other options as I continue listening and learning from the children and where their interests guide me throughout the school year.

I took photos of each of the children and I prepared them (see below) so that they can be used over and over.  The children were delighted to see themselves and were eager to interact with them.  Because we have children of varying heights in the same age group (some children have been calling others a baby because of their shorter stature), I used a scale to create the respective height differences.  This variance in height was to foster conversation about exploring similarities and differences in their size, age, skin tone, hair texture, hand size and even the size of their feet! The goal is to provide children with a positive experience about themselves and others. 

The book “Big Dog Little Dog” by P.D.Eastman 

is read or you can have the children 

watch this child read the book to them. 

   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f1kCr-0Z1c

Further discussion with the older age group continued with what we know and like about each other on the inside so that we could foster positive self-esteem and a positive self-concept in children (goal #2). 

The dolls are displayed together on the shelf for easy access.  A “peace table” has been set up for the children to take their own photo doll and sit with another to work out a conflict.  This is something that needs to be modeled between the teachers during each morning circle so that the students get the concept of problem solving and goal #3 to teach children how to cooperate with others.  During story time a book will be read and the teachers will model again a conflict.  The children are asked to think about a problem they may have had with another child.  Have them get their photo doll and ask them to sit at the peace table.  Help them work through the problem by asking open ended questions.  While keeping the two children at the peace table, engage the entire class to discuss the conflict so that you will promote group problem solving (goal #4) Read “Can You Tell How Someone Feels?” by Nita Everly.

http://www.linguisystems.com/products/product/display?itemid=10630

http://www.naeyc.org/files/tyc/file/Children's%20books%20on%20friendship.pdf

 (see the link for an extensive list of books)

The purpose of the goals listed above are to teach “skills in individual and group problem solving and critical thinking, and they are provided with experiences in taking social action”. (York pg 135)

Goals

Foster positive self-esteem and a positive self-concept in children

Promote respect towards others

Provide children with a positive experience exploring similarities and differences

Teach children how to cooperate with others

Promote group problem solving

Help children notice and do something about unfair behavior and events

Introduce children to other cultures

Encourage children to respect other cultures.

People paper dolls pg 213 Roots and Wings : Stacey York

Theme:           I’m Me and I’m Special, Boys and Girls, Friends, Bodies, Alike and                                                             Different, Feelings

Objectives:     Experience, positive respectful interactions with people who are different.                                              Recognize that our class and community are made up of many different types of people.

Materials:      Camera, film, cardboard, half-round molding (1 inch diameter), mat, knife, saw, rubber                          cement.

Description:    Take a full-length picture of each child.  Have it enlarged so that it          measures 10 inches high.  Mount the photo on a cardboard and cut it out with a mat knife.  Cut a short piece (2 inches) of molding and a saw a groove in the rounded side for a stand.  Slide the paper doll into the groove.  Set out the dolls in the block area or with the doll house.  Encourage children to create situations and dramas with their dolls. 

Variations:      1.         Use the dolls to act out conflicts between children.

2.                  Make dolls of people from different cultures

3.                  Make a doll for each member of the family.

My Variations:

            Take of photo of them with their arms out so that the doll                      can be dressed in a variety of culture specific clothing.

2.                 Measure the height of each child explaining that their height is a unique part of them and that they will grow taller and we can measure them again at the end of the school year to see how much they have grown. 

3.                  Create by printing photos off the internet or cutting out of magazines or travel posters, various backgrounds showing different environments.

4.            

5.                  Use the “3 Little Pigs” book as a way to introduce different homes that match the various geographical environments.  (Home building on a 8x 10 area can be added as a week/month long or as interest grows school year project using materials present in the homes featured on the map).  These play homes can be used to introduce children to the day in the life, food, work, etc.  of the people in those homes (many variations and extensions can be gleamed from this start point)

The goal of this activity is to personalize the photo doll so that the child feels like it is an extension of them.  Comparing their features in the photos with each other draws upon the understanding that we are each unique yet the same in many ways.  A sense of community can be gained.  When adding to the discussion the intangible features such as what we like about each other helps the children build language and draws them toward seeing the other person as someone with wants and needs.  The next step is for them to learn about empathy for the others wants and needs so that they can develop skills to problem solve and resolve conflicts.  Expanding upon that premise, introduction of other places, peoples and cultures come into play.  When you expand upon the inner circle, you create the concept that the world is larger then their classroom and their home yet the world starts with them – who they are – what they do – how they treat each other.  Diversity and culture is interwoven into their life – almost as if they are the center of a spider web – connected and ever expanding.  

Here is a web site (no pun intended) of a science project for a spider web.  Can you create an anti-bias activity with this?   http://scienceforpreschoolers.com/archives/62