RACE: Are We So Different?

January 19–April 28, 2013

Recommended for Grades 5—12

RMSC, with funding from Rochester Area Community Foundation, is working with the Rochester Initiative for Structural Equality (RISE) Coalition in Facing Race, Embracing Equity, an initiative to advance our community past some of the racial and ethnic lines that divide us.

Differences… they’re a cause for joy and sorrow. We celebrate differences in personal identity, family background, country and language. At the same time, differences among people have been the basis for discrimination and oppression.
 
Yet, are we so different?

FREE Optional Conversations on Race

About the Exhibit

Connecting NY State Common Core and Learning Standards

Support Materials

Public Experience of the exhibition.

  Optional Facilitated "Conversations on Race" available for no additional charge. Request when booking.
To Schedule a Field Trip: Call (585)697-1942

About the Exhibit

The exhibition RACE: Are We So Different? brings together the everyday experience of living with race, its history as an idea, the role of science in that history, and the findings of contemporary science that are challenging its foundations.

The exhibition consists of three Thematic Areas:

Click Here for a Floor Map Showing the Three Thematic Areas

Click Here for a More Detailed Floor Map

The Science of Human Variation/Challenging Misconceptions about Race		Current science tells us we share a common ancestry and the differences among people are not as great as they seem.
The History of the Idea of Race	Race emerged as a human creation in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Contemporary Experience of Race and Racism in the United States		Race is the least important aspect in determining character, yet it is often the most significant factor in how we are perceived.

 Note: Some exhibition components may be challenging for some students. We recommend that you preview the exhibition to evaluate how best to prepare your students. Teachers may preview the RMSC for FREE* at any time to explore the learning opportunities available at RMSC. (*Up charges may apply for certain exhibitions.)

NY State Common Core and Learning Standards:

• CDOS: 1,2
• MST: 1, 4LE(2,3,7)
• SS: 1,2,3,4,5
• Common Core in ELA: Reading (R,CCR,7); Reading Standards for Informational Text (IR,6-12,1,2,3,6,7,8,9); Speaking and Listening (SL,CCR,1,2,3,4,6); Language (L,CCR,1,4)
• Common Core in Mathematics: Standards of Mathematical Practice 1-5

Support Materials:

Educator's Guide (for Middle School and High School), includes:

Exhibit Overview, Tips for Connections with the Classroom, Additional Resources, and Field Trip Activity Pages

Materials Provided During the RACE: Embracing Equity Professional Development Workshops:

Student Guide

Exhibit Preview (the posters used in the workshop)

Ice Breaker Activity

Desiree's Baby

Levels of Racism Activity and Exploring Levels of Racism Document

Race and Medicine Project

Quotes and Questions

Close Reading Protocol, Chris Widmaier, World of Inquiry

Teacher Lesson Planning 1 and Teacher Lesson Planning 2, Chris Widmaier

Teacher's Guides include lesson plans that explore:
            1. Human Biological Variation
            2. How Culture Shapes Race, and
            3. Experiencing Race and Racism in Everyday Life
           for Middle School
           for High School

 Additional Resources:

Click here for the RACE Exhibition website: Includes overview of exhibit, photos, and other resource suggestions.

Click here for RACE—The Power of Illusion video series and website

A Family Guide to Talking about Race

Click here for the Harvard University Project Implicit website with multiple racial/ethnic bias tests that can be used with students.

Bibliography

 Glossary