Facing History and Ourselves
The Challenge of Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias makes it difficult to overcome our preconceived notions of others. That's the big idea in a activity that teaches learners strategies to recognize and question their biases.
Curated OER
Determining the Existence of Gender Bias in Daily Tasks
Help your kids explore gender bias. Learners design and conduct a survey examining role responsibilities within families. They determine the percentage of responsibilities for males vs. females and graph the results. Then they analyze...
Anti-Defamation League
Implicit Bias
Everyone has biases, both explicit—ones we are aware of—and implicit—ones we are unaware of. High schoolers learn the differences between explicit and implicit bias in a short activity where pupils watch a short video, read articles...
PBS
Who, Me? Biased?: Understanding Implicit Bias
A 10-page interactive explains different facets of implicit bias, demonstrates how implicit bias works, and how people can counteract its effects. The interactive tools permit users to save their information in "My Work" folders, to take...
Learning for Justice
Beauty is Skin Deep
If you are in need of a lesson on tolerance or the impact of media, this plan could be useful. The class begins with a brainstorming session in which they reflect on their own experiences with bias based on appearance. Next, they...
Curated OER
Test Yourself for Hidden Bias
Students examine their own hidden bias. In this diversity instructional activity, students link to an Internet website to test their own stereotypes and prejudices. Students discuss how bias is perpetuated in society and determine what...
Curated OER
Is the Brady Bunch Biased
Learners examine gender bias on television and in the movies. In this social science lesson, students watch various shows and when an instance of stereotypical behavior, or gender bias situation occurs, learners think about the problem....
Curated OER
Discrimination on the Menu
Students study discrimination in the workplace. In this discrimination lesson, students define the term 'fair' and work in groups to find ways all people are alike and different. Students write sentences defining a fair classroom, a fair...
Curated OER
Discriminating Issues
Young scholars examine how U.S. Law Defines Discrimination For this lesson. They research the issues surrounding a variety of types of discrimination, and then write editorials analyzing legal and social positions on discrimination in...
Anti-Defamation League
The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas became a quick hit in the young adult literature genre before its adaptation in the 2018 film of the same name. Use a thorough instructional activity, discussion guide, and series of activities to discuss...
Anti-Defamation League
Hair Discrimination and the CROWN Act
The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) is the subject of the lesson that asks groups to research the stories of five different women and share their insights in a jigsaw activity. Participants then craft...
Curated OER
Are Our Classroom Materials Gender Biased?
Students explore equality by analyzing their own classroom belongings. In this gender bias lesson, students investigate their classroom and identify objects as either male or female biased. Students collaborate while exploring the idea...
Anti-Defamation League
Hair, Identity and Bias
Middle schoolers weigh in on dress codes, specifically those that apply to hair and make-up, with a lesson plan that uses a 2017 case from a charter school in Massachusetts. Class members read about two girls suspended for violating the...
Anti-Defamation League
Women’s Inequity in Pay: Could It Be Sexism, Implicit Bias or Both?
Equal pay for equal work? High schoolers research the reasons for the inequity in women's pay. They read articles, examine graphs, engage in discussion, and then craft an essay in which they suggest a way to address the gender wage gap.
Curated OER
Loose Lips
Have your middle and high schoolers analyze instances of celebrities using racial slurs or making prejudiced comments in public. After reading an article, they consider the roots and effects of prejudice and bias. As a class, they...
Curated OER
How Are We Different?
Students explain and accept the similarities and differences between girls and boys. They focus on gender neutrality and recognize gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination in school materials, activities, and classroom instruction.
Curated OER
Gender Equity in the Classroom and the Workplace
Students research careers non-traditional to their genders. They job shadow at cooperating businesses and investigate gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination.
Curated OER
Anne Frank: The Island of the Skog
Students read and discuss The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg and examine the illustrations, keep a "discrimination log," and write about one example of discrimination and how they could have intervened to stop it.
Curated OER
The Gingerbread Person
Students discuss gender bias and stereotyping. In this social science lesson, students read the book "The Gingerbread Boy" and discuss why it is a boy. Students then write their own story changing it to a gingerbread girl and a female fox.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Negative Attitudes
A study in the United Kingdom found that approximately 60 percent of workers had heard the term gay used as an insult in the professional workplace. Scholars consider discrimination, negative attitudes, tolerance, and stereotypes in the...
Anti-Defamation League
Soccer, Salaries and Sexism
Call it soccer, call it football, but call it unfair! the US women's soccer team has called out the US Soccer Federation for unfair treatment in terms of salaries, support, and working conditions in a lawsuit filed in 2019. Young...
Curated OER
Gender Bias in Language
Twelfth graders study the issues between male and females. In this current events lesson, 12th graders read an article and answer questions. Students watch a video and write an essay.
Carolina K-12
The Cold Within
“. . . one of the great challenges to humanity is acknowledging and overcoming a natural tendency to think less of and discriminate against people who are different from us . . .” Launch an examination of competition and cooperation, of...