Lesson Plans for Exploring Prejudice and
Diversity Issues
Language
Objective: to explore how language perpetuates stereotypes
Grade levels: All
Materials: paper, pens, chalk
Time: 45 minutes
1. Explore the concept of ethnic humor with your students.
Ask them to describe what ethnic humor is and what all
ethnic jokes have in common. (Emphasize that all ethnic
jokes stereotype one or more groups.)
2. The Dumb Blonde Syndrome - What is a dumb-blonde
joke? How is it similar to or different from ethnic humor?
3. Ask students to work in pairs and make a list that
includes groups about whom jokes are made, what the stereotype
of the group is, where they hear the stereotype perpetuated
and if it is true or false.
Example:
Group
Blondes |
Stereotype
dumb |
Where
TV, friends |
True/False
false |
4. Ask students if it's ever o.k. to tell jokes that
perpetuate stereotypes? Why or why not? *
5. Challenge students to make a list of biased language.
For example, "Indian giver", "you gypped me, " "you're gay."
Examine each term for the stereotype it perpetuates.
* Rule of thumb: if you have to look to see who's around
before you tell the joke, it's not o.k.!
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