The document encourages 5th-grade students to reflect on societal stereotypes associated with various professions and gender roles. It promotes discussions on how perceptions can be limited by bias and encourages students to think critically about these stereotypes while exploring ways to challenge them and be allies for others. The content emphasizes the importance of language and personal choices in combating stereotypes.

1. The Trouble with Sameness
5th Grade
John Cooper School

2. Picture a…
close your eyes and quickly visualize who
comes to mind when you think of the
following:
• Police Officer
• House Cleaner
• Fire Fighter
• Babysitter/Nanny
• Mechanic
• Doctor
• Teacher
• Garbage Picker-Upper
• Scientist
• Basketball Player
• Singer
• Model
• Criminal
• Dancer
• Construction Worker
• Lawyer
• Receptionist
• Nurse

3. Let’s compare!
• What similarities do you see?
• Are there people who can be called
these terms but DON’T look like the
pictures?
• Why do you think most of us thought
of the same kinds of people?
• If you were an alien and saw ONLY
these images in our heads, what would
you believe to be to be true about
humans?

4. Details, Details
• Turn to nearby neighbors and talk
about all the things you have been
told, what you have seen, or what you
have read about what girls are, what
they like, what they don’t like, what
activities do they do, what they wear,
what they become when they grow up,
etc.

5. Details, Details
• Turn to nearby neighbors and talk
about all the things you have been
told, what you have seen, or what you
have read about what boys are, what
they like, what they don’t like, what
activities do they do, what they wear,
what they become when they grow up,
etc.

6. How Did We Get There
From Here?

7. How Do We Do It To
Ourselves?

8. What It’s Called in Adult World

9. Words Matter
• “That’s retarded.”
• “I can’t believe you listen to that music.”
• “That’s so gay!”
• “Your name’s weird.”
• “I can’t believe she would wear that in public.”
• “Sissy”
• “That’s so lame.”
• “Your food stinks!”
• “Crybaby!”

10. How Do We Stop It?

11. How Will I Be an Ally?
Turn to nearby neighbors and brainstorm
ways to not force people to be what
stereotypes tell them to be. If someone
else is pressuring people, what could you
say?

12. “Be the change you wish to
see in the world.”
Gandhi

13. Have a Great Day!