Shape of Our Home Collaborative Art

We are exploring diverse cultures & places around the world, so we read The Shape of Home written and illustrated by @rashin.kheiriyeh. This story follows an Iranian girl’s 1st day of school in America. Through Rashin’s eyes, everything she encounters feels different—the foods, the letters in the books, & even the children and families. When her teacher asks the class to imagine the “shape of home” on a map, it opens up a conversation about where each child’s family originally comes from.

This book was a wonderful way to spark discussion about respecting & celebrating differences, learning about cultural traditions, & appreciating where people come from. After reading, we extended the literacy experience by providing tools that encouraged the children to both honor their differences & recognize that we all share the same home—planet Earth. Together, we saw our diversity makes the world beautiful.

The children were invited to collaborate on an art project: painting the shape of our shared home, Earth. Using recycled cardboard boxes, packaging materials, & paper rolls, the children created a large globe. They were given @colorationsart tempera paint with easel brushes to bring it to life. Next, they decorated cut-out figures to represent the diverse children of our school using Colors Like Me shape cut-outs & tempera paint sticks.

Teaching young children in collaborative ways that highlight our differences—while reminding them that we are all human—is crucial for fostering empathy, understanding, and inclusivity. It helps children develop a positive sense of self because they feel seen, appreciate diversity as they are introduced to new experiences, and learn to challenge biases when they encounter them. Early exposure to meaningful conversations and diverse representation in their environment sets the foundation for positive interactions in the world we share.

Here is another way to explore the same book through STEM.