10 Top Cultural Diversity Games for the Classroom

As classrooms become more diverse, teachers must find ways to celebrate and embrace the differences among their students. One effective way to do this is by incorporating cultural diversity games and activities into the classroom. These games not only help to teach about different cultures but also encourage empathy, an important skill for students to develop. Here are 10 top cultural diversity games for the classroom that are easy to implement and engaging for students of all ages.

1. The Tower Game: This game involves building a tower from a variety of materials, such as blocks, straws, and paper cups. Each student is given a different set of materials, representing different cultures. The goal is to build the tallest tower possible, but all students must work together and use each other’s materials to succeed.

2. Who am I?: This simple game involves sticking a post-it note on each student’s forehead with the name of a famous person from a specific culture. Students then ask yes or no questions to try and figure out who they are.

3. Cultural Bingo: Create bingo cards with cultural attributes instead of numbers. For example, instead of B3, a square may say “wears a hijab” or “celebrates Diwali.” Students then try to get a row or column of cultural attributes.

4. Cultural Scavenger Hunt: Hide pictures or objects related to different cultures around the classroom or school. Students must find and identify them, then research and present on the culture they found.

5. Memory: This classic game can be modified by using cultural objects, symbols, or words for students to memorize and match.

6. Cultural Show and Tell: Encourage students to bring in objects or artifacts from their own culture to share with the class. This can be a great way to learn about different cultures while celebrating diversity.

7. Multicultural Guess Who: Similar to the classic board game, Multicultural Guess Who involves asking questions about different cultural attributes to try and guess which character your opponent has picked.

8. Cultural Differences Game: This game involves reading scenarios that may be viewed differently in different cultures and discussing how to handle them. It encourages cultural empathy and understanding.

9. Musical Chairs with a Twist: Instead of using chairs, students stand in a circle around a globe or map. When the music stops, the facilitator calls out a country or culture, and students must race to touch that location on the globe.

10. Culture Swap: Pair up students from different cultures and have them interview each other about their traditions and customs. Then, have them present to the class what they learned about each other’s culture.

Incorporating these cultural diversity games into the classroom is a great way to teach students about different cultures and promote empathy and understanding. By creating a safe space where students can celebrate their differences, we can help create a more inclusive world.