How to make new friends and understanding that being different from one another is okay is a valuable life skill. The Sneetches is a wonderful yarn that stresses the importance of accepting people’s differences and an ideal launching point for talking with kids about diversity and tolerance. Put your words into action when you host a Sneetch Beach Party Potluck that honors diversity and embraces the beauty of the culture and heritage of neighbors and friends.
What you’ll need:
- invitations
- tent cards for recipes
- name tags
- tables and chairs
- serving utensils, platters, cups, and drinks
- decorations (colorful beach towels, beach umbrella, seashells, sand, etc.)
- camera
- copy of The Sneetches and Other Stories
- a ball and other outdoor games (optional)
Directions:
A potluck picnic is a super way to celebrate the many wonderful differences of the people in your community and give everyone a taste of one another’s culture! Create an invitation list that includes the neighbors you’ve not yet gotten to know and families new to your community.
In your invitation, ask your guests to bring an appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert that reflects their cultural background. Let them know you’ll be supplying a main course and beverages. Plan to get back to your guests once your RSVPs have rolled in to let everyone know how many they are cooking for or to make any menu adjustments.
When you send out your invitations, include a tent card and ask your guests to use it to share their potluck recipe and a little family or ethnic history about the dish. Have them bring it to the party and use it to label their offering. This is a great conversation starter and also helpful for anyone with food sensitivities or allergies.
Have the whole family work on decorations, name tags, and picnic entertainment. Kids can cut green stars from construction paper, punch a hole in each and thread ribbon or yarn through to make name-tag necklaces. Have them string other stars together to make a festive garland to welcome guests to your backyard beach.
For entertainment, consider setting up a backyard theater for a dramatic reading of The Sneetches or a talent show! Your theater screen, stage curtains (or hanging beach towel) is a great backdrop for live music, singing, and dancing should you or your guests wish to share songs from your heritage and showcase everyone’s different talents. Or organize a game of Sneetch Ball!
Before your potluck ends, be sure to gather everyone together for a group photo that you can send out to all your guests to thank them for coming.