Know Your Classmates™ (KYC) is a Positive Prevention Initiative created by Beyond Differences™, a curriculum written by teachers for teachers who value diversity, inclusivity, and believe that social emotional learning is of the utmost importance. It was created and designed to address the challenge of how we, as a society, help middle school youth become more self-aware about their own family’s identity, traditions and culture while learning acceptance, inclusion and respect for their classmates as well.
The KYC curriculum was created primarily for middle school grades to nurture healthy and open relationships among classmates from the moment school starts in the fall. It is comprised of teacher lesson plans and a student leadership unit. The curriculum is a supplement to the national awareness day sponsored by Beyond Differences™. Know Your Classmates is about supporting educators and students in exploring identity, recognizing stereotypes, and embracing differences.
Beyond Differences™ is providing free activity boxes full of supplies to the first 1000 middle schools to sign up. The boxes come with everything needed for a middle school to launch their very own Know Your Classmates event (including a printed version of the teacher guide, stickers, wristbands, posters, and supplies for a community art installation).