Fairness and Appearances (Grades 6-12)

Overview: This lesson explores fairness and appearances. The lesson explores a group of children who could not live with the lack of fairness shown to one couple.

Objectives: 

Students will:

• discuss fairness and appearances and the impact of judging people based on their appearance.
• review a video about one couple’s journey when they were judged based on their appearances.
• create a sample social media post about not judging others based on their appearance.

Opening Reflection:

• How have you or how do you judge others based upon their appearance?

Review content (small groups or whole group): 

• CBS Evening News  (2018) Students take action after hearing couple’s honeymoon story. Youtube.com. https://youtu.be/AeVrH_3igzk
  Gilbert Caldwell and his wife, Grace, didn’t get the honeymoon they dreamed of 60 years ago. They were turned away from a hotel for being black. After teaching a powerful lesson to a group of students, they recently got a second honeymoon. Steve Hartman has their story “On The Road.”

Whole Group Discussion: 

• What surprised you about the story in the video?
• How did the students right an injustice years later?
• How do you assume the couple felt then and now?
• What is harmful about judging others based on their appearance?
• What injustice do you see in your school based on appearances?

Reflection:

• Create a sample social media post about accepting others regardless of their appearance.

Fairness is one of the Six Pillars of Character. Click here to learn more about the Six Pillars.