Our students come from many different backgrounds and have many different personalities. These backgrounds and personalities should be celebrated! What better way to compare the world and all of us in it, than a fruit basket? Kids need concrete examples they can refer on to model the importance of our differences and just how we make up a great "fruit basket".
Have students compare how the world is like a fruit basket. Share with the kids a basket filled with either fruit like you find here, or actual fruit from a store. Explain that each person, like fruit, comes to the world with unique qualities and personalities, all of which are very important. It would be boring to only be able to eat one type of food, just like it would be boring if we all had the same personality. You can read "Fruit Salad Friend" by Marie Dismondy to enhance the concept. Pass the fruit around and discuss.
Share with students that they will make two craft projects to help them better visualize a fruit basket and just how special their unique qualities are. You can share the different fruit visors in this step and have students decide which fruit will represent them.
Using fabric markers, have students create their own fruit visor. In this example, the lemons and the oranges are made very similar, differing only in color. Have students make triangles on the top of the visor with a pencil. Then, fill in the triangles with their choice of color, depending on the fruit they've chosen. use the fabric markers to complete. For the watermelon visor, have students follow one of the stitch lines to make the red yummy part of the watermelon. Fill in with black seeds and a green rind.
To extend the message, have kids make fruit baskets on cardstock paper. Use the baskets from this pack to color then use these really cool foam fruit adhesives to stick around the basket. These foam fruits are PERFECT for this activity!
And there you have it. The kids will LOVE creating these baskets and most importantly, they will have a visual on how we are all part of something.
Photo Credit: Moments By Maredith