Skin Tone Talks in Mups Orange
In the Mups classroom, we began our year with a powerful exploration of skin tone and race, rooted in self-love and community care. At our school, we believe that developing a deep understanding of identity is crucial for young learners. By helping our students see beauty in themselves and others, we lay the foundation for an inclusive, anti-racist mindset. Our first steps toward this goal have focused on empowering students to describe and celebrate their skin, sparking meaningful conversations about who we are and the language we use to talk about our bodies.
Our exploration began with a simple but profound question: "What do you love about your skin?" The children shared responses like, “I love my skin because it is soft,” and, “I love my skin because it keeps the blood inside my body.” These answers, spoken with sincerity and curiosity, opened the door to deeper reflection about the role of skin in both physical and social contexts. This initial conversation helped us anchor the learning in a place of self-appreciation and connection to our bodies.
As we delved further into our inquiry, we introduced new language and concepts. Reading Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race sparked an important discussion, providing our students with a framework to think about race critically and kindly. We also explored scientific terms like "phenotype" and "melanin," deepening their understanding of the biology behind our diverse appearances. These lessons not only broadened their vocabulary but also made the complexity of human diversity tangible and relatable.
A key part of this journey was giving the students the opportunity to describe their own skin tones in their own words. They used words like "beige," "light brown," and "sand-colored." We also read More Than Peach, which further encouraged students to think about how we describe skin color and why representation matters. To visually and physically engage with this concept, we conducted a skin tone paint-mixing activity. Students were tasked with creating as many unique skin shades as possible, including one that reflected their own complexion. This hands-on experience allowed them to celebrate the variety of skin colors that make up our world.
Through these lessons, the Mups have not only learned about race and skin tone, but also developed a deeper appreciation for the uniqueness in themselves and each other. We hope that by starting the year in this way, we can help our students build a foundation of self-love, empathy, and a lifelong commitment to justice.
