Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin

Year 2 / 3 / 4 No Outsiders lesson plan 

Text: Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin lesson plan by Andrew Moffat equalitiesprimary.com

Learning intention: To help someone accept difference

Success criteria: I know we are different, I can tell you ways we are different, I know why some people are afraid of difference, I can help people to accept difference.

Starter: Look at the cover of the book; what do you see? Look at the language used and the images; what do you think this story is about? The title doesn’t make sense; what is missing from the title sentence? Why do you think the author has chosen this title?

Main: Read “Along came difference”. Discuss and feed-back: ·         Why do all the colours think their colour is the best? ·         Why do they start to separate and make rules? ·         Why doesn’t anyone say they don’t agree?

Role play: Give out cards to children, children have either red, yellow or blue cards. Ask children to move in to groups according to colour so that every group has their own space. Now put the following rules up on the board: ·         Each colour to stay in their own area ·         Blues can only talk to Blues, Reds can only talk to Reds, Yellows can only Talk to Yellows. ·         No talking to each other ·         No sharing ·         No being friends Ask the groups to discuss what they think of the rules and to feed back to the class. Say to the class you are the teacher so its your job to enforce the rules but of anyone disagrees then now is the time to say. Say children if children want to change the rules they need to explain why. Discuss the rules as a class and write new rules if children decide that is what is needed. Note: if children decide they want to keep the original rules, skip to the plenary and discuss. discuss what happened in the book when different colours and shapes joined the story. What did the colours learn? Look at the faces when the rules are up and contrast to faces at the end of the book – why are they all happy at the end of the book

Activity: Children work in pairs to cut out different colour shapes, stick them on to a poster with a title, “Being different is the best thing ever!”

Plenary: Discuss what happened in the book when different colours and shapes joined the story. How did life change for the colours? What did the colours learn? Look at the faces when the rules are up and contrast to faces at the end of the book – why are they all happy at the end of the book

Questions: At the start of the story, why did the colours think they couldn’t be friends? Why do the colours say at the end, “Being different is the best thing ever!”? How are we different in our class? What can we learn from this book? Why is this book about No Outsiders?

For 35 lesson plans and guidance on developing a "No Outsiders"ethos at school where children are taught everyone is welcome, see
No Outsiders in our school: teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

For No Outsiders parent / child workshops see
Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat