Living Diversity – Diversity in the Classroom

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

Each participant writes down three characteristics that make them unique and three that they share with their buddy. 

Discuss together: 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

Key concepts and frameworks for understanding diversity

 

Overview Key Terms  

Find out more about diversity dimensions   

 

 

Dive in 1

Read and annotate the short expert text on diversity competence.

READ

  • 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

INFO 1             INFO 2

DE1     DE2

 

Together with you buddy

  • Choose a textbook and one worksheet. Analyse them together.

  • Identify norms, assumptions, and underrepresented perspectives.

Done?

  • Adapt your worksheet to include at least three diversity dimensions.

  • 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:

  • Create a "diverse classroom checklist" for your own school and assess your current setting.

  • Develop a short professional development input (10 min) on diversity for your team and present it to a colleague.

  • Write a short classroom story that includes at least three different diversity dimensions and analyse what makes it inclusive.

What do you want to commit to changing long-term?

  • Create a simple action plan for the next 3 months (1 small step per week).

  • Identify one person at your work who could support or join your process.

Write down your commitments and review them together at the end of the unit.

Reflect

Reflect

Now that you've learned so much about living diversity and what inclusive education really means, take a moment to reflect with your buddy.

  • What did you discover about your own perspective?

  • What surprised, challenged, or inspired you?

  • What is your personal commitment to inclusive education?

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