Living Diversity
What shapes who we are? Is it our language, our beliefs, our bodies, our families, our gender – or something entirely different? In a world full of differences, it’s not enough to notice them. We need to understand them.
Diversity shapes all areas of educational work – yet it often remains unnoticed. Children and young people experience exclusion when their languages, experiences or identities are ignored. Many educators feel unsure about how to respond or where to start. In this unit, you will explore how to recognise, include and celebrate diversity in meaningful and practical ways.
Warm up
Who are we – visible and invisible diversity
Write down three characteristics that make you unique and three that you share with your buddy.
Discuss with your buddy: What is visible, and what is not?
Include internal dimensions such as
- values
- language
- family background
Reflect: Which types of diversity are represented in school routines and which remain hidden?
Learn
Who is heard – and who is overlooked?
Who naturally belongs – and who is expected to “fit in”?
What happens when multiple differences come together in one person?
It’s not just about definitions. It’s about perspective. About recognising systems, building empathy, creating fairness – and making space where everyone matters.
Overview Key Terms
Find out more about diversity dimensions
Dive in 1
Diversity competence is not a finished skill – it’s a journey...
...of reflection, of action, of creating space. For voices. For people. For true participation. Those who walk this path transform relationships.
Who belongs – and what do we need to make everyone feel seen, safe, and included? Read and annotate the short expert text on diversity competence.
READ
Together with your buddy:
Share examples from your own school practice where diversity was (not) considered.
Describe a specific moment when diversity was missing in your teaching.
What could you change or improve next time?
Transfer 1
Tools & Checklists for Identifying Bias in Educational Materials
Bias in teaching materials is often difficult to detect—especially without structured tools.
Checklists offer targeted support to critically examine language, representation, and values in textbooks, worksheets, images, or classroom posters
What are hidden messages? Key Elements of a Bias Assessment Checklist
Together with you buddy
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Choose a textbook and one worksheet. Analyse them together.
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Identify norms, assumptions, and underrepresented perspectives.
Done?
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Adapt your worksheet to include at least three diversity dimensions.
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Document the changes and explain your intention.
Transfer 2
Use your new knowledge to generate concrete, useful tools for your own practice.
Together with your buddy choose one of the activities:
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Create a "diverse classroom checklist" for your own school and assess your current setting.
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Develop a short professional development input (10 min) on diversity for your team and present it to a colleague.
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Write a short classroom story that includes at least three different diversity dimensions and analyse what makes it inclusive.
Reflect
What do you want to commit to changing long-term?
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Create a simple action plan for the next 3 months (1 small step per week).
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Identify one person at your work who could support or join your process.