Thomas Edison Elementary School Celebrates Diversity With Paints

PORT CHESTER, NY — Thomas Edison Elementary School used living color to show why the world they will create will be "No Place for Hate" and diversity is a reason for celebration.

From the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District

Thomas Edison Elementary School echoed with creativity as kindergarten through fifth grade students embarked on a hands-on painting activity on Nov. 29 to celebrate their unique skin colors.

Equipped with crayons and paint, the students eagerly mixed and blended different colors to craft a shade that mirrored the beautiful diversity of their skin color. Each student left their imprint on paper, tracing their handprints and bringing them to life with a spectrum of colors. The engaging activity was designed to empower students to appreciate each other’s differences and foster a culture of respect, self-love and admiration for their individual skin colors.

"It was a fun way to demonstrate that everyone’s skin color comes from the same sources, just a different mix of the same colors," said teacher Jill Buchholz, who organized the schoolwide activity. "I hope the students felt each other’s presence and the adults, working side by side, really seeing each other and noticing all the beautiful colors of us as a school community."

Throughout the day, the students also read excerpts from Katie Kissinger’s "All the Colors We Are," which explained they get their skin color from ancestors, the sun and melanin. The scientific explanation was one of the key learning objectives of the lesson to demystify skin color. It also sparked insightful conversations about the ways that people are different and how diversity enriches the world. The students’ completed murals — with a wide range of skin colors —represent the unique identity of each classroom and the larger school community.

"I hope students remember this experience and teach others about the science of skin color," Buchholz said. "I hope they took away positive feelings about their skin color, got to know each other beyond the surface, and left the activity wondering what fun schoolwide activity would be next, and how they can help to make Edison a 'No Place for Hate' school. We will be exploring these areas with future activities."

The enriching learning experience aligns with the school’s commitment to the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate initiative, which promotes inclusivity using a variety of tools and anti-bullying resources.

Thomas Edison Elementary School, proudly bearing the "No Place for Hate" designation, is dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for students. Buchholz emphasized that the objective of the activity was to dispel fear, debunk misconceptions, challenge myths and eradicate prejudices surrounding skin color.