Unfortunately, racism and discrimination are still very active across the world today. Despite the heroic efforts of individuals, such as Bayard Rustin, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., people are still judged on a daily basis. In order to show students how racism and discrimination look and feel, The Class Divided Video Prompts create a thought-provoking, eye-opening perspective.
Jane Elliott
Before using this resource, it will be helpful to share information on Jane Elliott. She started as a teacher but became a lecturer and diversity trainer. She created a controversial and thought-provoking experiment called the “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise.” While she did the project in her classroom after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, it quickly became known across the world. Additionally, it is still well-known today.
Elliott created the project in order to show how a senseless class system was based on personal opinions. She labeled her students as inferior or superior based upon the color of their eyes. Students with brown eyes were superior for random reasons. Then, Elliott told those students they were smarter and had better manners than the students with blue blues. By doing this, she started showing the groups how it would feel to be treated as a minority. Additionally, she showed how it would feel to be treated better than others for no real reason. Jane Elliott had to transform into the meanest, most hypocritical human being. However, she showed how one group experienced complete and utter humiliation, uneasiness, and embarrassment. Ultimately, students were given a truly eye-opening experience on what it feels like to judge and to be judged.
Differentiation
Every class is filled with students who are learning at different levels. Thus, there are three options for the prompts! The first option includes cutting out the strips and gluing them in journals. The second option involves displaying the prompt on the board. Therefore, the whole class may discuss the prompt together and then write independently. Or, the prompt may be displayed for a small group working together. The last option involves students writing on an individual sheet. Due to these options, every student may be writing on the same prompt but in a way that is appropriate for his/her level. By doing this, students will be able to truly focus on articulating their thoughts instead of being overwhelmed by the question.
The Class Divided Video Prompts
This eye-opening resource has everything needed to teach students about discrimination and how it still affects the world today. The unit centers around A Class Divided on PBS, so there is an included link. After watching, there is a video reflection sheet in order to allow students time to process their thoughts. Then, there are 10 video response strips in order to ensure students are truly thinking about the situation. Additionally, there are 8 video response recording sheets with an attached rubric. By having this, students know the high-quality response the teacher is looking for. Furthermore, there are 11 question prompts to display on the board. This unit will ensure students have time to reflect on the experiment and see how discrimination is still very present in society.
The Class Divided Video Prompts will greatly open students’ eyes to racism and discrimination. The prompts will help students understand what it is like to be judged for superficial aspects and how painful it can be. Ultimately, students will see how The Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes exercise is happening on a daily basis. Whether intentional or not, there are so many people whose actions constantly display racism and discrimination. These prompts are an excellent way to help reawaken students’ eyes and help stop senseless mistreatment.
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