Hands-On Egg Diversity Activity for Kids
This diversity activity for kids first appeared on Kids Activities Blog over 10 years ago as a Martin Luther King Jr Day activity idea. The simplicity of the diversity lesson plan idea has made it a favorite with kids of all ages. Pinterest even named this diversity activity as one of the Top 20 pins for Education and Classroom Activities. <–Please share this!
Whether you need a good Martin Luther King Jr Day activity or diversity activities for kids, we love this simple egg lesson to further explore the idea of diversity and cultural differences to your children. Kids Activities Blog always loves when lessons can be visual and hands on.
Egg Diversity Activity for Kids
One of the beautiful things about our little ones is that color, cultural differences and even language usually don’t phase them. Notice that I used the word “phase” because kids are very observant so they do notice the differences. Let’s start teaching them when they are young that accepting and celebrating the differences is a way of life. This will not only have a lasting impression on their own life but impact the world as well.
We Are ALL the Same on the Inside Egg Activity for Kids
Supplies Needed
- 1 brown egg
- 1 white egg
- plate
- (Optional) Erasable marker
Egg Activity Instructions
Step 1
Hold both eggs in your hands. Have the kids hold them and touch them. Place the eggs next to each other on the plate.
Talk to your child about the two eggs:
- What is the main difference in these two eggs?
- Do you think the brown egg is brown on the inside or the white is white on the inside?
- Discuss their thoughts and observations.
Step 2
Crack the two eggs next to each other on the plate leaving the shells nearby.
Talk to your child about the two eggs:
- Are they different on the inside?
- If you removed the egg shells, can you tell which egg insides came from each egg?
Depending on your child’s age and understanding you can explore this topic more in depth.
Our Lesson from the Results of the Egg Diversity Activity
I shared with my children on how God created us different and that is what makes us unique with different hair type, body type, color, language, culture and interest. The beautiful thing is we are all human with a heart that beats, with emotions of laughter, joy, sadness and love and this is what should hold us together not the color of our skin.
Our Experience with Diversity
When we first arrived to South America my son didn’t have a grasp of the Spanish language, the children were a bit smaller then his anglo body type (he gets that from his father) and he was a bit lighter than a lot of the kids. His Spanish was basic, he knew a few words here and there like “hola” or “adios” and maybe some numbers but that was it. When he started preschool I was nervous for him knowing that most of the children didn’t speak English and he didn’t speak Spanish. One day I went out to observe him and guess what. He was happily playing with the other boys and girls. They played in their own language but with each other and it wasn’t a problem. It was a beautiful picture of how we should play as adults.
When our kids begin to start noticing and sharing the differences pay close attention to how they are expressing themselves. Are they using hurtful words? Negatively? In awe? Discuss with them their observations. This would be a good time to share a very practical lesson on diversity.
More Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities
One of the reasons that we love this egg diversity activity for kids on Martin Luther King Jr Day is that MLK inspired the entire world to look beyond what is on the outside.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
–Martin Luther King, Jr I Have a Dream speech on August 28, 1963
Martin Luther King Jr Inspired Activities from Kids Activities Blog
- Facts about Martin Luther King Jr for kids to print & learn
- Activities for MLK Day
- Martin Luther King Jr Coloring Pages
Other practical ways to teach diversity
- Discuss differences when you are out and about. When you see someone in a wheelchair, using sign, dressed in their cultural attire, blind, etc..
- Eat at a restaurant from a different culture.
- Attend cultural events or travel exposing kids to things they never could image.
- Read books that discuss different cultures, languages, abilities and colors.
More Kids Activities You don’t Want to Miss
- Black history month activities for kids
- Black history month facts for kids
- Juneteenth facts for kids
- Rosa Parks facts for kids
- Harriet Tubman facts for kids
- Thought for the day quotes for kids
- Random facts kids love
How do you teach diversity to your children?
What a wonderful activity!! Thank you so much for sharing it!
That is a fantastic metaphor for teaching diversity and to celebrate MLK Day.
How concrete! Young kids will totally get it! 😉
Thanks ladies! Simple is good, right!
~Mari
So easy but so perfect. Thanks for sharing this!
Nice teaching! This will be easier to understand esp for children and younger age.
Great idea. I spotted a typo in “,,, a bit smaller then.” It should have been “… a bit smaller thAn.”
Such a simply, powerful illustration. Thank you!
Yes, I am sure eggs and people are just the same. Eggs are inanimate and therefore have no cultural baggage. People however do.
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Race is about more than skin color, you can try and deny this fact if you want, but the only person you will be fooling is yourself.
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Do you have any more ideas that i can illustrate to my students? I have been searching the internet but I am not find anything else.
Hi! I found your website today via the picture from this post being circulated on Facebook (I did not originate the FB sharing). I LOVED this illustration so much that I shared it on my blog with a few words of my own. I hope you are ok with that – I gave full credit to your website for the picture and concept and provided a live link to your site also. Your website is great! Lots of great ideas for me to share with my 5 yo daughter! Cheers!
Thanks so much for featuring us on your blog. I totally agree that it shouldn’t be complicated!
I’ve seen this idea before, PTA Reflection Program, “Diversity” year 2011. Well, who cares if it is a good one?
This is not diversity. Diversity acknowledges and embraces differences, it does not attempt to minimize and marginalize differences and strip people of the qualities that make them unique.
The point of understanding diversity isn’t in order to examine history and dole out reparations or assign blame for past evil. The point is to teach people (not just children, after reading these posts) that understanding people’s differences are valuable, not a problem to be addressed.
This is the kind of diversity that is invoked by those who don’t understand and don’t want to discuss it and want to dismiss it.
I just joined this site. I came across the egg concept for MLK, I love it And will use it for my class. The children in this day and age need to know God made us all the same. No on is better than anyone else. Love is what it’s ALL about , THANKS
What a superb way of teaching children that we are all the same on the inside! I love it.
This one gets shared with my teacher friends….and pinned, of course. My readers will LOVE it and USE it!
Blessings,
Sinea
Thanks, Holly. Great activity for my grandchildren. Love your website. Would agree somewhat with Guy. Celebrating diversity, does appreciate and applauds the differences between us. Just shows how amazingly creative God is! All the while knowing we share the same basic make-upon the inside. In fact, we might do this lesson again at Easter with all the decorated white and brown eggs (we might even grab some of the blue and green ones from Araucana chickens!). Thanks again.
I think the simplicity of this activity is perfect for young children! It’s all about beginning to examine such a complicated, emotional term like diversity. This experiment exposes little ones to the concept of diversity without talking “at” them. After ten years of preschool teaching, I know almost all of my kids would “get it” after watching this experiment! Bravo!
I love the comments here and actually agree with several who have raised concerns about making such a complex issue so simple. I hope that this starts conversations with your kids…not ends it.