Objective: At the end of the lesson, students will have a better understanding of how respect and acceptance of each other can benefit them in the future.

Materials: -Paper -Pen/Pencil -A Variety of Different Colored Markers -A Variety of Different Types of Art Supplies (colored pencils, crayons, glue, felt, etc)

Warm Up Activity: Have students think of a time when they experienced respect. Ask them to write down their experiences; have students pair up with someone to share their experience. After discussing, have the class come back together and discuss the experiences.

Main Activity: Have students work in small groups and make a Respect Tree. This should be done on a large piece of paper, with each group represented by a different colored marker on the ‘tree’. Ask them to brainstorm qualities of respect and what it means to be respectful. For example: listening to others, using kind language, understanding each other’s differences, etc. Have each group draw what they discussed on the ‘tree’ next to the marker representing their group.

Conclusion: After the activity has been completed, have the groups come back together and talk about what they learned while making the respect tree. Ask students to discuss why it is important to show respect and acceptance of each other’s differences. Ask questions such as ‘How will showing respect and acceptance in the future help you?’

Evaluation: Ask students to make a short art project showing what respect and acceptance of one another means to them. Have students display their projects around the classroom for everyone to see.

Closure: Summarize the learning by discussing the importance of respect and acceptance of each other’s differences. Explain how this is an important lesson for them now and in the future.