Celebrate Diversity and Explore Where Students Are From in the World

This easy to print and display map of the world has been created to explore and celebrate the diversity of your class. This is a fantastic activity to do at the beginning of the year as a whole class getting to know you activity, or as an inclusive activity to celebrate Harmony Day in your class.

Having a map that showcases the diverse origins of children in a classroom or community can be a powerful tool for fostering inclusivity. Here are some reasons why?

• A map displaying the various countries where children are from highlights the rich tapestry of cultures and backgrounds.
• It provides an opportunity for students to learn about different traditions, languages, and customs, fostering a sense of curiosity and respect for one another.
• Seeing their own country or region on the map helps children feel a sense of belonging and pride in their identity.
• It encourages a more inclusive worldview and breaks down stereotypes or misconceptions that may arise from limited exposure.

How to Use this Belonging Map in the Classroom

This activity is a great way to connect the families of your students into a learning activity. In order to best support your students in this activity, it is recommended that students work with their family at home to learn about their cultural roots and fill in their I Belong Here bio cards. This knowledge can then be brought into the classroom during this activity.

Materials

• I Belong Here bio cards (one per student)
• World map (printed to desired size)
• String or ribbon
• Artefacts brought from home (optional)
• Student photos

Piece together the world map and briefly discuss the concept of family backgrounds and heritage. Emphasise that each person’s family comes from different parts of the world, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultures.

Display the world map at the front of the classroom, and have students gather their bio card and any family artefacts they have brought from home. Invite students, one by one, to come up and place their bio cards on the map in the appropriate location.

Download and Display

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the editable Google Slide version of this resource or the easy to download and print PDF in either color or black and white.

This resource was created by Caitlyn Phillips, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Inclusive Resources

Looking for more activities like this that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity? We have you covered…

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Decorate your classroom with this set of pennant banners that displays different ways to say hello around the world.

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World Geography – Country Research Project Inquiry Task

Help your students discover new countries with our printable country research project template.

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Contributions of Cultures Around the World – Research Project

Research the cultural contributions from countries around the world with this research activity.