Here are 20 awesome activities to help students explore sociology. Sociology is the study of culture and includes everything from social justice movements to race to manners. These activities are appropriate for a wide variety of ages and contexts and sure to help you devise creative and engaging lessons!
1. Nature vs. Nurture
This is a great way to check for understanding of a previously studied unit. Students take 30 traits and categorize them on a Venn diagram. The packet also includes an answer key.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
2. Family Life Cycle
This packet walks students through the various aspects of life in a family’s social construction. Students examine graphs and facts and complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet. Finally, students complete a graphic organizer which can be updated after a class discussion.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
3. Identity Lesson
American society is built on diversity. In this lesson, students identify important parts of their identity. They reflect on how differences are important and how learners can stand up to injustice. Use this activity at the beginning of the year to build a healthy classroom community.
Learn More: The Responsive Counselor
4. Sociology Games
This is a great list of sociology activities to expand on or wrap up a unit. Topics include human rights, longevity, and inequality amongst others. These games are most appropriate for middle school and early high school students.
Learn More: Mr. Don
5. Community Events
This sociology class really thought outside the box. This teacher provides a brief but meaningful list of activities for students to learn about sociology by helping the community. Activities include volunteering at a women’s shelter, collaborating with elementary school students, and more.
Learn More: Not Another History Teacher
6. Sociology Projects
This list of activities is flexible enough to easily adapt to current events. Each project also corresponds to specific units; making lesson planning a breeze. Activities include discussing the meaning behind a song or researching the biggest problems facing public schools.
Learn More: Not Another History Teacher
7. Sociology Jobs
What can you do with a sociology degree? Here is a breakdown of 12 jobs you can do with a sociology degree. Turn this into an activity by asking students to write their own job description for one of these jobs or by identifying which particular sociology skills are used in each job.
Learn More: The University Network
8. I’m More Than…
When class starts, students write about how they want to be perceived by their peers vs how they think they are perceived. After students watch a specific Ted Talk, they can complete a prompt about how they are more than “a single camera perspective”. This is a great way to help students have increased empathy for themselves and their peers.
Learn More: The Daring English Teacher
9. Create a Meme
Students explore social construction in real time with this meme activity. Students poke fun at various aspects of life by creating their own memes. Use the finished product to kick the class off with a laugh.
Learn More: Tracee Orman
10. Compliments
Compliments are an important part of social life. During this lesson, students learn how to appropriately give and receive compliments from their peers. This is an uplifting and important teaching activity for February.
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11. Culture of Kindness
Lots of social factors are constantly in play inside a school. This book is a great resource full of activities, lessons, and more to create a culture of kindness in your middle schooler’s daily life.
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12. My Heart Full of All
Tolerating diversity and having empathy for others are important aspects of society. This beautifully illustrated book also helps students learn about other cultures. This is a great teaching activity for all schools; regardless of their demographic.
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13. Poverty and Hunger
This is a great teaching activity to explain poverty and hunger in an age-appropriate way. Start class by asking students to think about a difficult time in their own lives. Finish storytime by brainstorming ways that the class can combat hunger in their community.
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14. I Love My Hair
Ask children to look in the mirror and describe their hair. Then, show them pictures of people around the world with various hairstyles. Finish the activity by watching this Sesame Street song about different natural hairstyles.
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15. Color of Me
Read The Color of Me. Afterward, layout head templates in a variety of skin tones and ask students to complete a self-portrait. It’s important to provide as many options as possible so that everyone feels included.
Learn More: Happy Toddler
16. Be Who You Are
This is a great teaching activity for the special education classroom. While these self-portraits are less literal than others, self-perception is equally important. Reading Be Who You Are is a great way to enforce this message.
Learn More: Teaching Special Thinkers
17. Birdsong
Katherena and Agnes have so much in common, but Agnes’ health is failing. What will happen to their friendship? This is a beautiful book about interacting with elderly individuals. Follow-up class activities could include visiting a nursing home.
Learn More: Bookshop
18. Multicultural Food
This matching activity helps children discover new foods and new flags from across the globe. Some students might even recognize their home flag in this activity. Finish up this class activity by having students try a selection of the pictured foods.
Learn More: Pre-K Printable Fun
19. It’s Ok
Pick a book about diversity to read to the class. Then, pose various discussion questions like, “How are you different than others?” and “Why are differences important?” Then, ask students to write about a difference they are proud of.
Learn More: Jodi Durgin
20. Teaching Diversity
Teaching children about diversity in a middle-class “single camera perspective” demographic can be difficult. Open students’ eyes to a new version of reality through field trips, attending festivals, or writing to penpals. This website also includes a list of helpful online resources and books.
Learn More: Multicultural Kid Blogs
17 Creative Activities That Celebrate The Story of Job 