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    Ampere Association

    Date: June 3, 2026Ampere Association, a not-for-profit organization, incorporates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) into unique learning applications that promote storytelling, health, wellness and growth with rural and remote communities. At its core, Pinnguaq embraces diversity and creates opportunities […]

Showing Respect for Different Cultures

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Understand what respect means in the context of different cultures.
Identify and share something special from their own family or culture.
Learn how to treat others’ cultures with kindness and curiosity.
Work together to create a class display that celebrates everyone’s uniqueness.

Duration

45-60 minutes

Materials

Books that celebrate diversity & respect
Large chart or construction paper

Definitions and Vocabulary

Identity

The set of unique qualities, beliefs, personality traits, and social roles that define who a person or group is.

Personality

The special mix of how you think, feel, and act that stays mostly the same over time.

Values

The important beliefs that guide what’s right and wrong, helping them make good choices and know what matters most, like being honest, kind, or responsible.

Classroom Instructions

What is Respect?

Introduction: Respect is a positive way of treating or thinking about someone or something. For example, you treat your parents with respect at home – you listen to them, speak to them kindly and learn from them.

Lead the class into a discussion: What does respect mean to you? How do you show respect at home? How can you show it at school? How do we show respect to people who are different from us?

After the discussion, as a class, collaboratively write students’ ideas on a large chart paper titled “Ways We Show Respect.”

What is Identity?

Identity is what makes us who we are! It’s a combination of our individual culture, personality,values, beliefs, and language. Even though we are all different, sometimes we share some traits as a group that make up our identity. When we respect someone, we are understanding that everyone is different and we are respecting those differences.

As mentioned, language is one important factor that makes up someone’s identity. It is a main way of communication and for groups of people to understand each other. Canada is very diverse with many different cultures & languages spoken among communities and at home. Keeping a language alive is also important to remember where you came from, even though people move from one country to another and may learn the language of the new country.

Get students to partner up and complete the following activity, while giving extra assistance to the younger grades.

My Identity Chart

Name: My Friend:
My favourite foodTheir favourite food
My family has history from….
(country(s))
My family has history from….
(country(s))
# of languages I know# of languages they know
Language I speak at homeLanguage they speak at home
How I say “Hello” in my languageHow they say “Hello” in my language
Holidays I celebrateHolidays they celebrate
A popular sport from my countryA popular sport from their country

This article originally appeared in the twelfth issue of Root & STEM, Ampere’s free print and online STEAM resource supporting educators in teaching digital skills

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