55 minute workshop with 4th-6th grade students. In some ways, sameness is great - we have same hobbies, we go to the same school, etc. But in what ways does sameness get us into trouble? How does sameness lead to stereotypes, bullying, and other things we don't want to see in the world?

1. The Trouble with Sameness
Middle Grades
Potomac School

2. Picture a…
close your eyes and quickly visualize who
comes to mind when you think of the
following:
• Family
• Police Officer
• House Cleaner
• Fire Fighter
• Babysitter/Nanny
• Mechanic
• Doctor
• Teacher
• Garbage Picker-Upper
• Scientist
• Basketball Player
• Singer
• Model
• Criminal
• Dancer
• Construction Worker
• Lawyer
• Receptionist
• Postal Worker
• Nurse

3. Let’s compare!
• What similarities do you see?
• Are there people who can be called
these terms but DON’T look like the
pictures? What do these people have
in common?
• Why do you think most of us thought
of the same kinds of people?
• If you were an alien and saw ONLY
these images in our heads, what would
you believe to be to be true about
humans?

4. Details, Details
• Turn to nearby neighbors and talk
about all the things you have been
told, what you have seen, or what you
have read about what girls are, what
they like, what they don’t like, what
activities do they do, what they wear,
what they become when they grow up,
etc.

5. Details, Details
• Turn to nearby neighbors and talk
about all the things you have been
told, what you have seen, or what you
have read about what boys are, what
they like, what they don’t like, what
activities do they do, what they wear,
what they become when they grow up,
etc.

6. How Did We Get There
From Here?

7. How Do We Do It To
Ourselves?

8. What It’s Called in Adult World

9. Words Matter
• “That’s retarded.”
• “I can’t believe you listen to that music.”
• “That’s so gay!”
• “Your name’s weird.”
• “I can’t believe she would wear that in public.”
• “Sissy”
• “You throw like a girl.”
• “That’s so lame.”
• “Your food stinks!”
• “Crybaby!”

10. How Do We Stop It?

11. How Will I Be an Ally?
• Turn to nearby neighbors and
brainstorm ways to not force people to
be what stereotypes tell them to be.
If someone else is pressuring people,
what could you say?

12. “The thing that is really
hard, and really amazing, is
giving up on being perfect
and beginning the work of
becoming yourself.”
Anna Quindlan

13. Have a Great Day!