In or out?

Inclusion is about how well the presence and ideas of different groups of people are valued and welcomed into a community.

Consider the following images. These images represent different levels of acceptance into a group. Match the images to the definition that best describes them.

Difference, however it is defined, is a good thing. It makes us who we are and makes the world a wonderful place to be!

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Acknowledgements(Opens in a new window)

Starting with ourselves

Barriers to inclusion

A barrier is something that prevents movement or access. Barriers to inclusion can prevent people from feeling welcomed, safe, and comfortable.

Before we can create inclusive spaces, we have to recognize any barriers to inclusion and eliminate them. When we feel included, we are more self-confident and are able to value ourselves and others.

Consider the following statements about barriers to inclusion.

If the statement is encouraging inclusion, select ‘True.’ If the statement is blocking inclusion, select ‘False.’

Now it’s your turn.

Add two more statements of your own to the list: one statement that encourages inclusion and one that blocks it.

Record your statements in your notebook or using another method of your choice.

Making assumptions

Consider the information shown in the following image.

Where do you think the student is going? What clues did you use to make your decision?

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal where the student is going.

Answer

If you thought the student was going to play baseball, you made an assumption. That’s what happens when we don’t get all the information or make a decision based on how we think things should be.

A stereotype, which is the unfair belief that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same, is usually made when we do not have enough information and we make assumptions.

True or false?

Let’s check our understanding.

Explore the following statements and decide if they are true or false.

When you’re done answering the questions, press the ‘What Did We Learn?’ button to discover more about this activity.

What Did We Learn?

Stereotypes hurt

Gender stereotypes are harmful. If we make an assumption about how a gender should be, we exclude people who are outside of our assumption. Someone who does not fit our assumption about gender may feel confused or bad about themselves. This could hurt their self-esteem and can lead them to stop doing the things they love.

Making assumptions can also cause people to discriminate against and exclude those who are seen as ‘different.’ Assumptions about sexual orientations, learning disabilities, mental illnesses, or cultural differences are harmful too. They can lead to homophobia and other prejudices based on fear, hatred, and mistrust. Everyone needs to feel accepted in school and in the community.

Creating a community

An ideal community would be inclusive, welcoming, safe, and free of judgement. Design an advertisement to promote the “ideal” community.

Your advertisement could be a poster, an audio commercial, a video commercial, or another type of advertisement. You may choose any method (print, audio, or digital) to produce your ad or record a detailed description of the ideal community. Include all of the reasons that people would want to live in this community. Be sure to use language that demonstrates what you have learned about inclusion, respect, and acceptance.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Discover More