A pivotal learning experience during my practicum occurred during an activity about diversity. I framed the lesson by showing students three apples that differed in colour and size. As a class, students posed observations about the apples. I then proceeded to cut each apple in half, asking students, once again, what they noticed about the apples. Students engaged in a think-pair-share, then shared their thoughts about the visual demonstration:

“Even though the apples all look different, they are the same on the inside”

 “All of the apples are exactly the same on the inside – I see stars!”

Students were on the right track! I probed further by asking students how this may relate to our recent discussions about community and culture. Their answers were heart-warming:

“It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, people are all the same on the inside.”

 “We may look different, but we are all humans.”

This lesson was particularly rewarding since it signaled the class had reached a level of mutual respect and understanding. Students’ willingness to share their ideas surrounding a complex topic demonstrated that we formed a safe community of learners.