Why Learning About Different Cultures Matters: Celebrating Diversity at SNACS
What can children learn from taking the time to understand people whose backgrounds, cultures, and experiences differ from their own?
Today, the second Monday of October, is when Indigenous Peoples Day is observed in many communities across the United States. This provides an opportunity to learn about Indigenous peoples, their histories, cultures, and contributions.
Remember that conversations about culture and diversity don’t have to begin and end with one day on the calendar.
Every school community is made up of students and families with their own backgrounds, traditions, experiences, and perspectives. Learning to appreciate those differences—and recognize what we share—can help children develop a stronger sense of belonging and connection to the people around them.
Diversity Starts With the School Community
Children don’t have to travel far to encounter different perspectives. Their classmates may have different family traditions, cultural backgrounds, experiences, languages, and ways of seeing the world.
Learning alongside people with different experiences gives children opportunities to practice listening, asking thoughtful questions, showing respect, and finding common ground.
These experiences can also help children understand that there isn’t only one way to experience the world. The traditions, stories, languages, and perspectives people have can become opportunities for everyone to learn something new.
Language as Part of Learning and Connection
Languages are an important part of a child’s identity, family, and connection to their community.
At SNACS, the 1st and 2nd Grade Combo class provides one example of how multiple languages can be incorporated into the classroom. The teacher teaches her lessons in both English and Spanish, giving students opportunities to engage with instruction in both languages.
Including multiple languages in the classroom can help students recognize the different experiences everyone brings to school while creating opportunities for children to learn from one another. It can also show students that the languages spoken by their families and communities are a meaningful part of who they are.
Creating a School Where Students Feel They Belong
For children to feel comfortable learning and growing, they need to feel that they belong.
At Sierra Nevada Academy Charter School (SNACS), belonging is one of the school’s core values. SNACS describes belonging as being part of a group that values, respects, and cares for you.
For a diverse school community, creating that sense of belonging means giving students opportunities to learn with and from one another. Children can discover that while their families and experiences may be different, they can still share friendships, classrooms, goals, and a sense of community.
Learning About the World Through Experience
How can children learn about different cultures in a way that goes beyond simply reading about them?
SNACS provides opportunities for students to explore culture through hands-on learning. The school’s Family Engagement Program describes the SNACS Multicultural Celebration of Children Around the World, where classrooms focus on the lives of children in different countries. Students explore the countries they study through activities that can include food, activities, dance, and other cultural experiences.
SNACS also incorporates history and culture into its broader learning experiences. Its student handbook notes that teachers incorporate topics such as Black History Month and the roots of commonly celebrated holidays into social studies and thematic learning.
Experiences like these can help make cultural learning more meaningful for children. Instead of simply learning that people have different traditions and backgrounds, students have opportunities to explore and engage with what they are learning.
Helping Your Child Learn From Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Peoples Day can be a natural starting point for families who want to help their children learn more about Indigenous peoples and their history and cultures.
For Nevada families, October provides another opportunity to learn about Indigenous history closer to home. In this same week, October 16th is officially recognized in Nevada as Sarah Winnemucca Day, honoring the Northern Paiute educator, author, and advocate for her contributions to the Paiute Tribe, Nevada, and the United States.
Parents should keep these conversations age-appropriate and focus on curiosity and respect. Consider:
- Reading together. Look for children’s books written or illustrated by Indigenous authors and creators.
- Learning about local history. Explore the Indigenous history of Nevada and the Great Basin region.
- Asking questions together. Encourage your child to think about what they are learning and what questions they have.
- Exploring authentic resources. Museums, educational organizations, books, and other resources can provide opportunities to learn from Indigenous voices and perspectives.
- Keep learning beyond October. Understanding different cultures is an ongoing process, not something that needs to happen on a single day.
The goal isn’t for children to memorize facts about another culture. It’s to encourage curiosity, respect, and an appreciation for the many people and experiences that make up their communities.
Diversity Is Part of Learning
A child’s education involves more than academic subjects. Children are learning how to communicate with others, work together, understand different perspectives, and participate in a community.
At SNACS, these ideas connect with the school’s emphasis on belonging, engagement, compassion, connection, and meaningful learning. Through classroom learning and hands-on experiences, students have opportunities to explore history, culture, and the world around them.
This is not just for children. For all people, Indigenous Peoples Day can be more than a date on the calendar. It can be an opportunity to begin conversations about history, culture, respect, and the importance of learning from people whose experiences may be different from our own.
Those conversations can continue throughout the year and beyond.
When children are encouraged to approach differences with curiosity rather than judgment, they can develop a greater appreciation for the people around them—and a stronger understanding of what it means to belong to a community.
At SNACS, learning about the world means giving students opportunities to explore different cultures, perspectives, languages, and experiences while building a community where students can learn, connect, and belong.
Learn More About SNACS
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