Distribute copies of Kayak’s DisAbility issue to your students and read through the magazine together before starting this lesson.
Activity
Read the article “Fair Play” in Kayak with your students and learn about how to make playgrounds accessible and inclusive. Take you students outside the classroom to the playground, local park, or around the school grounds. Create a worksheet and have them evaluate certain aspects of their school or community.
Ask your students to reflect with these questions:
- What do they notice in their classroom, school, or playground?
- What do they notice in their community?
- What suggestions might they have to make school or community improvements?
- Based on what they’ve learned from Kayak, ask them to evaulate how accessible or inaccessible their community or school is.
Take this activity a step further and ask your students to create a presentation for the class on their findings, along with their suggestions for improvements. They could even write a letter to their school principal or mayor presenting their findings to advocate for change.
More Lessons on Disability in the Classroom
In this reflection, Ben Bourne Flosman encourages kids to recognize their own unique experiences and to stand up for what is right.
These activities and resources guide teachers on incorporating disability studies in their classrooms.