RaceEthnicity in America

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Race/Ethnicity in America

• ED 301
• Emily Luster
• Beth Luersman

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Grade Level

• This lesson is focused mainly for eighth grade
  students.

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Objectives

• The students will gain knowledge about different
  races and ethnicities in the United States.
• To appreciate cultural differences.

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Materials

• Notebook (for journal)
• Pen/pencil
• Newspapers or magazines
• Books on African American figures
• Computers
• Poster boards
• Markers

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Race

• A group of people united or classified together
  on the basis of common history, nationality, or
  geographic distribution.

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Ethnicity

• An ethnic quality or affiliation resulting from
  racial or cultural ties.

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Race/Ethnic Groups in America

• White or Caucasian
• Hispanic
• African American
• Asian American
• Multiracial
• Native Americans

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White/Caucasian

• 75.1 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines white as people who
  have origins in any of the original peoples of
  Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

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Hispanics

• 12.5 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines Hispanics as people who
  indicate that they were born in a Hispanic
  country or area, or have a heritage tracing back
  to a Hispanic country or area. Hispanic
  countries or areas include Mexico, Puerto Rico,
  Cuba, Central America, and South America.

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African Americans

• 12.3 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines black as people who
  have origins in any of the black racial groups of
  Africa.

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Asian American

• 3.6 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines Asian to people
  having origins in any of the original peoples of
  the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian
  subcontinent.

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Multiracial

• 2.4 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines multiracial as people
  who identify with more than one race.
• Other terms include biracial and mixed-race

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Native Americans

• 0.9 percent of U.S. population
• The Census Bureau defines native as having
  origins in any of the original peoples of North,
  South, and Central America and who maintain
  tribal affiliation or community attachment.

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Lesson 1

• Break the students into six groups. Assign the
  groups a race to research the cultural beliefs,
  where they came from, and their total population
  in the U.S.
• Have the students do an oral presentation to the
  class about their group using visual aids like
  posters, etc.

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Lesson 2

• During the month of February, have the students
  pick a significant African American figure in the
  U.S. to read about and then write a book report
  over it.

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Lesson 3

• Discuss with the class how racial issues in
  America impact our lives and how it prohibits
  Americans to have a national unity.
• Have the students give suggestions how to improve
  race relations.

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Lesson 4

• Have the students keep a journal for about two
  weeks. If they witness any racial discrimination
  have them record it in their journal. They can
  also search newspapers and magazines for any
  topics on race and ethnicity to add to their
  journal.
• In the journal, the students will write about
  what they saw/read, how they felt, and what could
  be done to change it.

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Lesson 5

• Have the students play a review game over race
  and ethnicity. The information that they will be
  reviewing will come from the reports that they
  presented to the class about the different races.

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Websites Related to this Topic

• American Demographics-Diversity in America
• The Race Course
• Upgrading America's Conversations on Race The
  Multi-Race Option for Census 2000 Association of
  MultiEthnic Americans, Inc.

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Websites continued

• American Anthropological Association Statement on
  "Race
• Census Bureau Home Page
• Children and Families, Critical Facts in ECE
  National Association for the Education of Young
  Children