For International Week, our school likes to have one school-wide craft that we use to line the walls. At the same time that it promotes and symbolizes unity, it also celebrates our diverse heritages and differences. Making multicultural paper dolls has been a tradition for our third graders (who do their own multicultural unit), and one year we decided to try it as an all-school activity.
The teachers have assigned this project of multicultural paper dolls in two ways. Either the students are all given a template/outline of a person, or they are allowed to come up with their own outline between 4-8″ tall. The international or multicultural paper dolls are then created and dressed based on traditional clothes worn in their families’ native countries. This works well in our school because we have a very diverse population from around the world; other schools I have talked to either use cultures from the students’ ancestry, or assign countries to the students to have more of the world represented.
Students were given some examples to view, and worked on the project at home, with their families. It was a wonderful collaboration, as parents could answer questions and provide materials for their kids. Some students used only paper, while others used cloth, felt, yard, buttons, lace, etc. We allowed the students a week to turn in the projects.
Here are a couple more pictures of the colorful Multicultural Paper Doll “parade” lining the hallways.
I can see the pride and hard work put into these beautiful paper dolls. I love the different textiles and media used by the kids to create the 3D images! Teacher talk to the kids about traditional clothes versus modern clothes, dress-up clothes for special celebrations vs what kids where to school, or outside to play. I have also talked to my kids about the differences in clothing used for religious celebrations versus family parties. Clothes reflect our identity, and in some ways express our personality, or show our belonging in a certain group. I smiled one time when a new student from Sierra Leone commented that all of the students in the US make jeans and t-shirts look like a uniform. Filling the hall with beautiful paper dolls that highlight cultures around the world celebrates our colorful differences and exposes kids to different styles and traditions.
This multicultural paper doll project is one of many projects we highlight in our book, The Global Education Toolkit. This smart, all-in-one resource from widely acclaimed authors Homa Tavangar and Becky Morales provides hundreds of easy, stand-alone activities, resources, and projects to help busy educators:
- Seamlessly integrate global awareness themes into existing K-5 Common Core curriculum
- Recruit parent and community volunteers and organizations
- Use social media for student global collaboration projects
- Plan international events, after-school clubs, and cross-curricular activities
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I love this idea! Kids could make themselves or someone they read about, or about a country they are studying.
What a great way to teach about different cultures especially using the child’s own experiences to decorate.
Thank you for linking up to Kid’s Co-op this week
Hello! May I ask what is the materials for this beautiful artwork?
We had the students work at home to create these beautiful Multicultural Paper Dolls. First, they needed to create an outline of a person on card stock (or cardboard, or other stiff paper). Then, they could use fabric, buttons, or anything they had at home to create the costumes and designs. Didn’t they do a great job??? 🙂
Thanks kidworldcitizen! I’ll try doing this at home with my kids.
Fantastic! If you send me a picture, I’ll post it in my gallery:). kidworldcitizen (at) gmail (dot) com
Hello,
My kids came home with a project similar to this. But their class theme is “USA”. Could you please give me an idea as to what native dress of USA? Thanks a bunch!
I think you could do several “typical” clothes ideas: 1) you could pick an “American” sport like American football and have your child do his favorite team. 2) You could do what children often wear (maybe jeans and a tshirt) holding a US flag 3) You could pick something from a certain state, like a cowboy hat and boots from West Texas or a surfer from Hawaii (of course these represent only a portion of the population, but still!:) 4) you could research a specific group of Native Americans. It would be offensive and inaccurate to portray American Indians as they normally are portrayed with a feather headdress and brown clothes- but what if you looked up a specific group like the Sioux or the Ojibway and found out what their typical dress was? I hope this helps!!!
Beautiful post, thanks so much for sharing!! Pinned to do later 🙂
Thank you!:)
Nice work! Many colorful and inspiring dolls. I love making different kinds of dolls too. My room is full of them. Recently, I bought some new doll stencils. I am going to try your ideas on them.
Our school is planning on doing this project for our Cultural Diversity Awareness week. We are having an International Fair as a culminating activity and are asking every child to do this as part of the decor. I was wondering if you would share the letter you sent home to parents explaining how to do this project. It seems like you got it right and as the saying goes “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”
Yes!!! Let me look for it and email it to you!!
Thank you! Did I leave my email? Here it is!
Hi! I hate to bother you again! Did you happen to find the letter about the paper dolls? I need to send it out on Monday to our parent community and if you can’t find it, I need to draft one myself. If you didn’t do you have any tips I could add to the letter. My email again is dread@rochester.k12.mi.us. Thanks!
Hello!
I love this idea. It is a great way to get to know your students and learn about each other’s culture. I teach in a dual immersion school and this will be a great project. Would it be possible to get a copy of the letter you shared with your students parents? I would greatly appreciate if you are.
Thank you
I will look for it!!!! It might be on my computer in the US- we are in Mexico for the year!
I love this idea.. do you happen to have the letter that you sent home to the parents with the instructions? I would love to send this out to my parents this week. if you do could you PLEASE email it to me ? my email is Angie.arenas@aol.com
Ii would love a copy of the letter you sent home as well. My email address is shelia.clackum@dcssga.org.
Thank you!
Love this idea!!! Could I also please receive the parent letter you sent home? I bought your book too I love it. My email is Erica.evers@lsr7.net
Thank you!