Why do we have different skin colors?

TeachPeaceNow

TPN Lesson: Why we have different skin colors (This is a lesson every child should experience - preferrably before age 7. But it is never too late.)

Purpose: Research (Derman-Sparks, Van Ausdale & Feagin) shows that children are aware of different skin colors by the age of 2. At first this is something of curiosity. But if adults indicate that skin color is something that people don't talk about, or pretend that it doesn't matter (act colorblind), and do not explain why people have different skin colors, the stage is set for later prejudice based on skin color.

Objective: To explain the reasons why people have different skin colors.

Level: All levels

Preparation: Mix up tempera paint in a large range of beiges, tans, and browns. (Hint: Use red, yellow, black, and white to make these colors). Have paper plates, and water for washing up. Each student will need 1/2 sheet of copy paper with their name written on it. (Hint: If doing large numbers - like a whole school, use a different color marker to write names for each class).

You will also need two very important books. 1. All the Colors that We Are and 2. The Colors of Us

Procedure:

Session 1: Read the book All the Colors that We Are. Identify the 3 ways people get their skin color.

1. From the melanin in their skin.

2. From the sun

3. From their ancestors.

The Homer Brink School Librarian reads All the Colors That We Are to a class

2. Read The Colors of Us and have students brainstorm beautiful names for their skin colors.

3. Session 2: (This may immediately follow the reading or be on another day.) Show the students a white mouse, if possible live or else a picture, and explain that it is an albino. That means it has no melanin in its skin and so has no protection from the sun. Show students how you can see the blood under the mouse's skin in the tail, ears, feet and in the red eyes. Now have them look at their palms. Explain that people have less melanin in their palms and the soles of their feet (Children are very curious about this)- probably because these areas get less sun exposure. If you rub your hands together you will see them turn pinkish - that's the blood showing through.

Summarize: Now we understand the science behind why people are different colors. Repeat: It comes from melanin - a chemical in our skin, the reaction of the sun on the melanin called tanning, and where our ancestors came from. Today people have moved from where their ancestors used to live so we have many different skin colors right here in our classroom. Skin color has nothing to do with what kind of person we are inside. It protect our skin from damage from the sun.

Note: You may want to follow up with skin safety - i.e. wearing Sun Screen when outdoors. Everybody can get sunburned no matter how much melanin you have in your skin.

albino mouse

Dude -- Homer Brink's white mouse

Now they will make their handprints. Have the range of colors of paint ready on the paper plates. They should choose the color that comes closest to the color on the back of their arms (not their palms! See above) They will not find perfect matches because tempera paint colors come from different chemicals that melanin comes from.

Making handprints

Display the handprints around the school.

The Homer Brink Showcase displays 700 handprints.

showcase

Links to news coverage of this project

Fox News 40http://www.wicz.com/news/video.asp?video=04%2D29%2D10+rac%2Ewmv%2Eflv&zone=News

WBNG http://www.wbng.com/news/local/92419424.html

YWCA http://www.standagainstracism.org/2010/

Home * Issues * Groups * Activities * Contact Us* About Us