Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 1

Students will identify and celebrate both similarities and differences by completing an “All About Me” worksheet and collaborating on a class Venn diagram to foster classroom community.

Understanding what makes each person unique while recognizing common traits builds empathy, respect, and a positive classroom environment for 4th graders.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Common Ground

5 minutes

Step 2

Introduce Celebrating Differences

5 minutes

Step 3

All About Me Worksheet

10 minutes

Step 4

Class Venn Diagram

7 minutes

Step 5

Reflection

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 1

Today’s Objective

Key Definitions

Warm-Up: Common Ground

All About Me Worksheet

Class Venn Diagram

Reflection

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 2

Students will deepen connections by uncovering shared experiences through a matching activity and crafting personal timelines to appreciate each other’s life stories.

Exploring classmates’ life events fosters empathy, respect, and a stronger classroom community as students recognize both common experiences and unique journeys.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Quick Recap

2 minutes

Step 2

Activity 1: Find Your Match

10 minutes

Step 3

Activity 2: Personal Timelines

12 minutes

Step 4

Activity 3: Share Timelines

3 minutes

Step 5

Reflection

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 2

Today’s Objective

Warm-Up: Quick Recap

Activity 1: Find Your Match

Activity 2: Personal Timelines

Activity 3: Share Timelines

Reflection

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 3

Students will explore and share their family and cultural traditions, then collaboratively map our classroom’s cultural heritage to recognize both shared and unique practices.

Learning about each other’s traditions fosters respect, empathy, and a sense of belonging as students appreciate the rich diversity within their community.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Culture Snap

5 minutes

Step 2

Family Traditions Worksheet

10 minutes

Step 3

Share in Trios

7 minutes

Step 4

Map Our Traditions

5 minutes

Step 5

Reflection

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 3

Today’s Objective

Warm-Up: Culture Snap

Family Traditions Worksheet

Share in Trios

Map Our Traditions

Reflection

Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 4

Students will practice perspective-taking by engaging with a story, discussing characters’ viewpoints, and completing a worksheet to deepen empathy and understanding.

Developing the ability to see situations from multiple perspectives builds empathy, improves communication, and strengthens classroom community.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share

5 minutes

Step 2

Read-Aloud Story

10 minutes

Step 3

Guided Discussion

7 minutes

Step 4

Perspective Organizer Activity

5 minutes

Step 5

Reflection

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 4

Today’s Objective

Warm-Up: Think-Pair-Share

Read-Aloud: Two Sides of the Fence

Guided Discussion

Perspective Organizer Activity

Reflection

Reading

Worksheet

Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 5

Students will collaborate to create a class “unity quilt” by designing individual art squares that highlight both their unique traits and shared similarities, then assemble and explore the finished artwork to celebrate classroom unity.

This art project gives students a hands-on way to represent and appreciate both what makes them unique and what they share with classmates, building empathy, respect, and a stronger sense of belonging.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Art Supplies

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Recall & Share

5 minutes

Step 2

Create Quilt Squares

12 minutes

Step 3

Assemble the Class Quilt

7 minutes

Step 4

Gallery Walk & Pair Share

4 minutes

Step 5

Reflection

2 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 5

Today’s Objective

Warm-Up: Recall & Share

Create Quilt Squares

Assemble the Class Quilt

Gallery Walk & Pair Share

Reflection

Lesson Plan

Difference Detectives Session 6

Students will reflect on their growth as Difference Detectives and commit to celebrating and respecting diversity through personal action pledges and summarizing their learning on an exit ticket.

Reviewing learning, making commitments, and summarizing key insights solidifies students' understanding, fosters ongoing empathy, and strengthens community by setting positive intentions.

Audience

Time

Approach

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Journey Recap

5 minutes

Step 2

Group Discussion: Impact Share

7 minutes

Step 3

Action Pledge Creation

10 minutes

Step 4

Pledge Gallery Walk

5 minutes

Step 5

Exit Ticket

3 minutes

Slide Deck

Difference Detectives Session 6

Today’s Objective

Warm-Up: Journey Recap

Group Discussion: Impact Share