Celebrating Our Uniqueness

Use the activity below to celebrate the things that make each of your students unique.

Materials Needed: butcher paper, markers, crayons, music for drawing, a recording of the song “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang

1. Gather students in a seated circle and say, “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now, take a moment to think quietly about something special that makes you... you. What makes you stand out from the crowd? Today, we’re going to celebrate that!”
2. Offer each student a piece of paper and crayons or markers. Put on a piece of classical music (or any music you wish), and encourage students to draw their special quality. Remind them that this isn’t a moment for perfection but for using their imaginations and turning their thoughts into visual art.
3. Next, go around the circle or ask volunteers to share their visual works of art and tell the rest of the class what makes them unique. As each student shares, write their name and personal traits on butcher paper for reference.
4. Now, ask students to come together in a circle, making sure everyone has room on each side to dance. Let them know you’re all going to dance and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness!
5. Play the song “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. As the music starts, invite each student to the center of the dance circle. At each turn, sing together to the tune of the song and in celebration of each student, like this: “Celebrate [student name], come on! They can [unique trait], come on!” Make it a disco party to remember!
6. Now that we’ve danced and celebrated, let’s sit back down and talk about our experience. What made you smile the most during our dance party?

Reflection Questions:

• How did it feel to share your uniqueness with the class?
• What’s something new we’ve learned about celebrating our differences?