Published: October 30, 2009 07:19 pm      

Goddard students learn about colors of diversity

EDMOND — A box of crayons was used to teach students lessons on tolerating differences and cooperating with each other Wednesday.

Pre-school and kindergarten students at Goddard School participated in the Early Childhood Diversity Art Program (ECDAP) sponsored by the Respect Diversity Foundation.

As Joan Korenblit, executive director for the foundation, read “The Crayon Box That Talked” to the students, each one learned something different.

In Shane DeRolf’s deceptively simple poem, a child’s box of crayons conveys the simple message that when each of them all work together, the results are much more interesting and colorful.

The children learned everyone is unique, and everyone is important.

“The crayons came alive and they were all different,” said Royce Coleman, “like people.”

Emma Hendershot said she learned you are supposed to work with other people.

“They (crayons) met each other and they liked the other colors,” Emma added.

For some the lesson learned took on a wider range of knowledge.

“The whole world is made up of all different colors,” Brianna Varva said.

After discussing the book the kindergarten children took their crayons and made Mandalas, a symbol of respect for diversity. From many-hued rainbows to scenes of children of all colors, the tiny artists created what they thought diversity looked like.

The children then took their artistic abilities one step further as they painted a three-dimensional symbol of respect for diversity that they will enter in the statewide Respect Diversity Art and Poetry Contest. Their art pieces will be showcased in the ninth annual Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit at Science Museum Oklahoma in the spring.

Edmond artist Cynthia Wolf (curator of Adelante! Gallery in the Paseo Arts District) helped facilitate the classes with the assistance of students from the University of Central Oklahoma. Wolf also taught the pre-schoolers a new song before they made their Mandalas.

Pre-schooler Gentry Hillis said she loved to draw circle rainbows and use all of the colors.

“Due to generous sponsors, students in Edmond schools participate free of charge in Early Childhood Diversity Art Program projects,” Korenblit said.

Goddard teachers participating in the program included Kayla Eleby, pre-school teacher and kindergarten teachers, Janessa Bointy and Stacy Morgan.

To learn about the Respect Diversity Early Childhood Diversity Art Program and other Respect Diversity Foundation art integration projects, visit www.respectdiversity.org, call 359-0369, or e-mail rdfrdf@cox.net.