Diversity and inclusion are essential components of life inside and outside the classroom. Teaching young students about different cultures, traditions and perspectives fosters an environment of respect, empathy and understanding. However, discussing diversity may feel like a sensitive or challenging subject—but it doesn’t have to! By incorporating diversity games for elementary students, teachers can create a welcoming space where students celebrate differences in a fun and meaningful way.
In this blog, we’ll provide exciting game ideas, creative activities and practical tips to help educators seamlessly introduce diversity and inclusion into their classrooms. For more inspiration on engaging classroom activities, check out these fun classroom games.
Benefits of Teaching Diversity in the Classroom
Diversity can mean many things, including cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic status and the experiences and identities that shape how individuals navigate the world around them. Because of these differences, it’s essential to teach elementary students to understand and appreciate diversity and promote inclusivity. Teaching diversity in the classroom fosters respect, kindness and curiosity, helping students develop into more empathetic and culturally aware individuals.
Research has shown that exposure to diversity enhances students’ cognitive abilities and critical thinking skills. According to American University, having diverse perspectives in the classroom encourages creativity, innovation and better problem-solving. A study by The Century Foundation found that engaging with diverse peers helps students become more open-minded, strengthening their ability to consider multiple viewpoints and make well-rounded decisions.
Benefits of teaching diversity in the classroom:
- Strengthened social and emotional intelligence
- Increased empathy
- Enhanced problem-solving skills
- Improved teamwork and collaboration
- Higher engagement and motivation
- Preparation for a global society
- Feelings of representation and inclusion
- Improved academic outcomes
- Better decision-making
Fun Diversity Games for Elementary Students
You may be wondering how to approach including diversity in your lesson plans—don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with these fun diversity games for elementary students.
Cultural Trivia
Test students’ knowledge about world cultures with a fun trivia game! Use engaging, age-appropriate questions to spark curiosity and learning. Here are some examples:
- Q: What language do people speak in Brazil?
- A: Portuguese
- Q: Which country is most famous for making sushi?
- A: Japan
- Q: What is the name of the Mexican holiday that celebrates loved ones who have passed away?
- A: Día de los Muertos
- Q: Which country is famous for making gelato?
- A: Italy
- Q: What country is known for celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights?
- A: India
- Q: What is the official language of Nigeria?
- A: English
- Q: What is the traditional dress worn in Japan called?
- A: Kimono
- Q: Which African country is famous for its pyramids?
- A: Egypt
Passport Around the World
Set up tables or designated areas around the classroom, each representing a different country or culture. Include artifacts, images or fun facts to make each station interactive. Students can then use their handmade “passports” to collect stamps or stickers as they travel from station to station.
Each stop can include:
- Learning about a country’s traditions, foods and landmarks.
- Completing activities like map labeling or flag drawing.
- Earning stamps for participation and engagement.
Cultural Art Explorations
Engage students with hands-on art projects that highlight different cultural traditions. Set up an art station for each activity and provide background information on its cultural significance. This allows students to appreciate diversity through creativity.
Examples of cultural art projects:
- Origami (Japan)
- Dreamcatchers (Native American culture)
- Rangoli Sand Art (India)
- African Mask Making (West African tradition)
Diversity Through Movement
Get your students moving and grooving through movement-based activities. Incorporate dances, traditional exercises and physical activities from different cultures to help students experience cultural expression in a fun, interactive way. Movement-based diversity games for elementary students enhance learning by engaging students physically while reinforcing cultural appreciation and inclusivity.
Examples of movement-based activities:
- Salsa Dancing (Latin America)
- Tai Chi Movements (China)
- African Drumming and Dance (West Africa)
- Yoga Practices (India/Asia)
- Powwow Dancing (Native American culture)
- Irish Step Dancing (Ireland)
Additional Diversity Activities for Students
We’ve covered some fun diversity games for elementary students, but there are even more ways to engage students in cultural learning! Try out some of these additional diversity activities for students:
Host a Cultural Fair
Organize a cultural fair with other classrooms as a special school event. Each class can represent a different country or culture. You can host it in a shared space like the gym or cafeteria. Families and students can set up booths showcasing traditions, food, special attire or music, allowing everyone to learn and celebrate diversity together.
Examples of cultural displays:
- Traditional attire such as kimonos (Japan), saris (India) or ponchos (South America).
- Artifacts like handmade pottery, woven baskets or musical instruments from different cultures.
- Posters with fun facts about different countries, famous landmarks and popular customs.
Engaging parents and the community is essential for strengthening the home-to-school connection and fostering a more inclusive learning environment. Parents and community members can also provide firsthand insights, enriching the learning experience. Be sure to send detailed instructions for how parents can get involved and help their students prepare for the cultural fair.
Celebrate Names
Names are an essential part of identity and culture. Having your name mispronounced can be frustrating, embarrassing or even hurtful, so teaching students to learn, spell and say names correctly is a meaningful step toward fostering an inclusive environment.
Ways to celebrate names in the classroom:
- Play name pronunciation games to practice saying names correctly.
- Create a classroom name wall with name origins and fun facts.
- Organize a name-spelling challenge. Add students’ names to spelling lists.
- Use different alphabets (e.g., Greek, Arabic or Chinese characters) to explore how names are written in various languages.
- Have students design a family crest representing their last name’s heritage and values.
- Read books that highlight diverse names and discuss their significance in different cultures.
Global Music Playlist
Music is a universal language that connects people across cultures. Incorporate international music into daily classroom activities to expose students to different sounds, instruments and rhythms from around the world.
Ideas for using global music in the classroom:
- Play background music during independent work or transitions.
- Teach students about traditional musical instruments from different cultures.
- Create a classroom playlist featuring songs from various countries.
- Learn how to sing popular age-appropriate songs in other languages, like, “It’s a Small World.”
Virtual Field Trips
Take students on a virtual journey to explore cultural landmarks and historical sites from around the world. Virtual field trips allow students to experience different places without leaving the classroom, making learning about diversity engaging and accessible.
Ideas for a virtual field trip:
- Research virtual field trip tools like Google Earth, 360-degree videos or museum websites.
- Gather engaging multimedia content like videos, interactive maps or live-streamed tours.
- Create a presentation that guides students through each site, incorporating images, facts and fun trivia questions along the way.
- Encourage participation by offering small prizes for students who answer questions correctly.
Select major landmarks or historical sites like:
- The Great Wall of China
- Egyptian Pyramids
- Statue of Liberty
- Taj Mahal
- Colosseum
Be sure to pair virtual trips with classroom discussions or follow-up writing assignments, such as, “If I could travel to one of these sites, which would it be and why?” You can also encourage students to write about personal experiences from their own travels or family heritage.
Need more ideas? Check out this blog for creative storytelling writing activities!
Encouraging Diversity By Publishing a Classbook
Use a unique and creative project, such as a professionally bound book, to document and celebrate your class’ efforts in promoting diversity. A published classbook allows students to showcase their learning, share personal stories and reflect on the diverse cultures they explore throughout the year.
Benefits of a Diversity Classbook
- Documents and reinforces diversity lessons
- Builds classroom community and pride
- Enhances writing and creativity skills
- Provides a professionally bound keepsake for students and their families
- Allows students to include their personal traditions and heritage
- Reflects on diversity and inclusion
Five Simple Steps to Create a Diversity Classbook
Follow these five steps to get your class started on their diversity classbook!
Step 1: Select a theme (e.g., “Cultures Around Our Classroom”)
Step 2: Select your classbook layout and format
Step 3: Guide students to research, write and illustrate pages
Step 4: Get parents involved to help enrich the content
Step 5: Publish your classbook by submitting your completed kit to Studentreasures. Parents can purchase copies, too!
At Studentreasures, we aim to make it as easy on teachers as possible. That’s why we offer FREE classbook publishing kits that include everything you need, such as start-to-finish support, step-by-step guides and more.
Building an Inclusive Classroom Environment
Creating an inclusive classroom environment is essential for building your students’ sense of belonging and respect. When students feel seen and valued, they become more engaged and open to learning about different cultures and perspectives. If you’re unsure how to navigate the topic of diversity, these tips can help guide you in fostering a more inclusive space for all students.
Evaluate Your Teaching Materials
Look at your lesson plans to see if you’ve selected books and media with culturally diverse settings and characters. When creating writing prompts or using names in a scenario, be sure to include diverse names, settings and locations. And, of course, don’t forget to incorporate fun diversity games for elementary students!
Some questions you can ask yourself when evaluating your lessons:
- Are various cultures accurately represented?
- Do materials include diverse perspectives?
- Is clipart and media inclusive?
Bring in Culturally Diverse Books for Elementary Students
When selecting books to read in class, make sure they include diverse characters from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, feature a variety of names or take place in culturally rich settings.
Here are a few examples:
- Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang
- The Best Diwali Ever by Sonali Shah
- A Ticket Around the World by Natalia Diaz and Melissa Owens
You can also check out these 13 fantastic read-aloud books for elementary students!
Encourage Students’ Curiosity
Students are naturally curious. Fostering respectful discussions about different cultures can help create an open and inclusive classroom. Encourage students to ask thoughtful questions about different traditions, customs and ways of life while guiding conversations in a respectful manner.
Ways to encourage curiosity:
- Provide examples of respectful questions students can ask, such as, “What are some traditions from your culture?” or “What languages do people speak in different parts of the world?”
- Create a safe space for questions by setting ground rules for respectful dialogue.
- Use storytelling to illustrate diverse experiences and perspectives.
- Share personal experiences or family traditions in a show-and-tell format.
- Introduce students to different greetings and phrases in multiple languages.
Practical Tips for Teaching Diversity Daily
Teaching diversity in the classroom may seem challenging, but small, simple actions can make a big impact. You don’t need to force anything or go overboard—these easy strategies can help foster an inclusive and culturally aware classroom.
- Rotate global greetings by saying “good morning” in a different language each day.
- Celebrate international holidays like Chinese New Year and Cinco de Mayo with discussions, crafts or themed activities.
- Invite diverse guest speakers from the community to share personal experiences, traditions and cultural insights.
- Assign students pen pals from different countries to encourage cultural exchange and global friendships.
- Encourage students to express individuality in assignments and projects by incorporating their backgrounds, interests and traditions.
- Include snacks, prizes or small representations from different cultures to introduce students to global traditions in a fun way.
- Explore world maps and discuss different countries, their languages and unique customs.
- Watch short, age-appropriate videos that showcase cultural celebrations, foods and traditions.
Making a Difference with Activities and Diversity Games for Elementary Students
Incorporating diversity games for elementary students into the classroom is a powerful way to build empathy, understanding and inclusion. These activities not only foster a sense of belonging but also prepare students to navigate the diverse world around them with respect. By engaging in cultural games, hands-on projects and meaningful discussions, students gain valuable social and emotional skills that benefit them both in and outside the classroom.
You don’t need to make drastic changes overnight. Start small by gradually integrating diversity-related activities and keeping an open line of communication with parents. Encouraging families to participate can help navigate sensitive subjects and ensure that cultural learning is both meaningful and inclusive.
Ready to celebrate diversity in your classroom? Begin today by creating a classbook with Studentreasures! Our FREE publishing kits provide everything you need to document your class’ learning in a professionally bound keepsake! For more writing activities, lesson plans and teaching strategies, visit our blog and online Teacher’s Lounge. Now that you have the tools to promote diversity in your classroom, you can create an environment where every student feels valued and included!